Footballer-turned-politician, Datuk Jamal Nasir Ismail, says it will be an uphill task for Baddrol Bakhtiar (main image) to dribble, let alone, score big, in the upcoming state elections.
Baddrol and Sabah FC parted ways last week, with the former Kedah and Harimau Malaya captain subsequently announcing his entry into politics.
Yesterday, Baddrol, a likely candidate for Pas in the Bukit Selambau seat, met residents of Kampung Kuala Kangkung, in Simpang Empat, Kedah.
Jamal, who represented Pahang and Malaysia before becoming Beserah assemblyman in 1995, said a footballer’s popularity will not guarantee votes.
“Baddrol is a big name in Kedah, but so was Radhi Mat Din,” said Jamal, referring to another footballer who ditched his boots for politics.
“Radhi stood for election in 2018 for a parliamentary seat (Pokok Sena) but lost, as he did not know the grassroots and voters well.
“Baddrol seems to be repeating Radhi’s mistake of jumping into politics, without knowing the problems and issues facing the people.”
Jamal said that before he contested the Beserah seat, he was Kuantan’s Umno Youth chief for six years, from 1989.
He said he visited the grassroots, listened to what they needed, and figured out how he could help. It was only then that he decided to stand for elections.
“Voters are not stupid, especially these days, with social media relaying news in the blink of an eye,” said Jamal, a member of the national football team that qualified for the 1980 Moscow Olympics.
“One of the reasons Baddrol gave for entering politics was to defend caretaker Kedah Menteri Besar, Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor.
“That is not a smart thing to say out loud. Sanusi, while a hugely popular man, is not universally loved. Voters may see Baddrol as a puppet.”
He said Baddrol is making an enormous sacrifice in quitting football, when his services are still needed.
“If he wins, he has a salary, but if he loses, what is to become of him?” asked Jamal.
“You think the politicians accompanying him today will take care of him if he loses? If you are not useful to them, they will cast you aside.”
Jamal added that Baddrol must also realise that the term ‘YB’ means Yang Berkhidmat (At your service) and not Yang Berhormat (honourable).
“When you become a wakil rakyat (assemblyman), your time belongs to the people,” he said.
“I could not continue for more than one term as it was time-consuming. I had to use my savings to help the people. I nearly went broke as my allowance was not enough.”
Jamal also advised Baddrol to improve his communication skills.
“He needs to brush up on his communication skills as 30 per cent of a politician’s time is spent talking to the people, in the state assembly and the media,” said Jamal.
“He must put his point across effectively and in a way the people can understand.”
Several other former footballers had joined politics in the past.
Besides Jamal, Ishsam Shahruddin was the other former footballer who managed to switch to politics.
Ishsam, who played for Perak and the national team in the 80s and 90s, donned Barisan Nasional’s outfit and won the Ayer Kuning assembly seat in Perak in the 2002 elections, with a majority of 2,213 votes.
Datuk Soh Chin Ann, who contested under MCA’s banner, went against DAP’s Lim Guan Eng in the battle for the Kota Melaka parliamentary seat in the 1986 general election, only to be handed a drubbing. Lim won the seat with 34,573 votes, while Soh garnered 16,967 votes.
Saramsak Kram also joined the political arena in 2013 when he was appointed as the Padang Terap Pas supporters gathering ambassador. Nothing has been heard about his political career since.
Main image: Facebook (mardhiyyahjohariofficial)
