PAS talks up non-Malay support after increased majority in Sg Bakap

 

PAS has talked up non-Malay support following Perikatan Nasional’s increased majority in the Sungai Bakap by-election win.

The Islamist party’s unity bureau chairperson Dr Halimah Ali said PAS candidate Abidin Ismail - who defeated Pakatan Harapan’s Joohari Ariffin with a majority of 4,267 votes – was not only well received by Malay voters, but also the non-Malay electorate.

“The great victory of the PN candidate in the Sungai Bakap state seat, where non-Malays make up almost 40 percent of the electorate, promises a new and positive future for Malaysia.

“The non-Malay youth have also begun to have confidence (in PAS and PN).

“I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate and thank all the voters of Sungai Bakap, especially the non-Malay voters who have started to accept PN’s crusade and are no longer influenced by the complaints and incitement of those who failed and are unable to defend the fate of the people,” Halimah (above) said in a statement today.

On Saturday, Penang Harapan chairperson Chow Kon Yeow attributed the coalition’s loss to the decline in support among non-Malays leading to lower voter turnout compared to the state election last year.

Chow said Chinese voter turnout was at an estimated 49 percent, a drop of 13 percent from last year’s state polls, while the turnout for Indian voters remained unchanged.

Free Malaysia Today reported PN’s internal data showed fewer than half of the 8,642 Chinese voters went to the ballot box, while about 58 percent of the total 6,683 Indian voters cast their ballots in the recently concluded by-election.

The same data revealed that 1,763 non-Malay voters chose to support PN.

PAS extends ‘hand of friendship’

Halimah also stressed that PN’s victory in the Sungai Bakap state constituency has proved that racist and extreme politics do not have a place in the country.

Instead, the Kapar MP said, the people are beginning to open up to the politics of national unification.

PN’s Abidin Ismail raises his hands in jubilation after winning the Sungai Bakap polls

“It is evident that political and economic stability must come from the solid support of all the largest races in the country.

“With this victory, the people realise that the country actually needs a leadership that has integrity and is willing to fight for the people regardless of race or religion.

“Well done to the voters, and to Malaysians of diverse races, PAS would like to extend a hand in friendship so that we can preserve the sovereignty and well-being of this beloved country in the spirit of the victory of the people’s candidate in Sungai Bakap,” she said.

The Sungai Bakap by-election was held following the death of incumbent Nor Zamri Latiff, who was also Nibong Tebal PAS division chief, on May 24 due to stomach inflammation. - Mkini