Tok Mat: Campaign without undermining racial harmony in Rantau

BN candidate for the Rantau by-election Mohamad Hasan today called for a healthy campaign that will not undermine racial harmony in the constituency.

"I ask that we campaign in a healthy manner. We campaign to uphold democracy in this country and do not raise issues that could threaten the harmony in Rantau which comprises people of various races.

"I hope there is no campaign that is detrimental or violates the Election Commission's rules," he said.

Mohamad, popularly known as Tok Mat among the locals, said he will not be focussing on any particular racial group during the campaign period.

"I do not focus on meeting this race or that race, I have never differentiated between my voters.”

"What is important is that in these 14 days I meet as many voters as possible," he told journalists after the nomination process at SKJ(C) Bandar Sri Sendayan in Rantau today.

Speaking to journalists after the nomination process, Pakatan Harapan leaders too echoed this, urging that racial and religious issues are not played up in the by-election.

"I hope that throughout this campaign, we will not use racial and religious issues.

"Let all parties contest based on what they want to do or have done. Let the Rantau by-election be a benchmark for Malaysia Baru," said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mujahid Yusof Rawa, who is in charge of Islamic Affairs.

Human Resources Minister M Kulasegaran said he hoped the campaigning will be based on facts.

"Don't use race and religion to confuse the people," he said.

Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also Bersatu president, said Pakatan Harapan needs to be more aggressive in countering misinformation in the by-election.

"We need to be more offensive, not defensive. We don't need to be defensive as if what the government has done does not benefit the people," he said.

Umno and PAS were accused of drumming up racial and religious sentiments in the previous by-election in Semenyih. 

Mat Hasan himself was at centre of controversy, saying that Malays have been sidelined since GE14 and that those who were previously penumpang (squatters) now live in the big house.

The Rantau by-election will see a four-cornered fight between Mohamad, Streram and two independent candidates namely R Malar and Mohd Nor Yasin. - Mkini