KUALA LUMPUR, April 27 — Former Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib urged Lembah Pantai voters today to give a chance to PKR incumbent Nurul Izzah Anwar and Pakatan Rakyat's (PR) other young leaders in Election 2013.
The former senior Umno politician, who recently joined PAS, called Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) "arrogant" ahead of the May 5 polls that pose the stiffest challenge to the ruling coalition's hold on power since independence.
"Give them one term," Muhammad (picture)told a 100-strong Malay-majority crowd at PPR (People's Housing Project) Pantai Ria in Pantai Dalam here today.
"This is the new generation of leaders: Rafizi Ramli, Tony Pua, Husam Musa, Salahuddin Ayub...If they can't perform, throw them out. From now on, no one party will last for 60 years," added the man popularly known as "Mat Taib" or "Mat Tyson", drawing loud cheers from the crowd.
Nurul Izzah faces an uphill task in defending the Lembah Pantai federal seat against caretaker federal territories and urban wellbeing minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Zainal Abidin, as he has the power to implement housing projects in the constituency.
Raja Nong Chik has enabled many Pantai Dalam residents to buy flat units so that they would not have to continue renting from the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), a move that boosted his popularity among the Lembah Pantai working class that had largely turned against Wanita Umno chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil in Election 2008.
Nurul Izzah, the daughter of Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, won the seat with a 2,895-vote majority among 56,650 voters in the 2008 general election.
Muhammad's campaign follows PAS leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat who also went on the stump for Nurul Izzah yesterday in Pantai Dalam here in a bid to help her draw support from the predominantly-Malay working class.
Muhammad also questioned today why there were "extremists" like Perkasa chief Datuk Ibrahim Ali and vice-president Datuk Zulkifli Noordin.
"BN has been in power for 60 years. Why are there still pressure groups?" he said.
Ibrahim is contesting the Pasir Mas federal seat in a straight fight against PAS after the BN candidate pulled out, while Zulkifli is contesting the Shah Alam federal seat under a BN ticket against PAS incumbent Khalid Samad.
Housewife Asmah Mt Saman, who was at Muhammad's function, told The Malaysian Insider that it was time to give the opposition a chance.
"I support Nurul Izzah. BN has always been in power, so let PKR have a go this time," said the 62-year-old, who had travelled from the nearby Taman Bukit Angkasa flats to hear Muhammad speak.
"I got BR1M, but that BR1M is our money," she added, referring to the government Bantuan Rakyat 1 Malaysia cash aids.
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