Close ranks, says Nurul Izzah as DAP pressured on Chinese votes

 

MAHKOTA BY-ELECTION | PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar urged government parties to close ranks after Johor BN deputy chief Nur Jazlan Mohamed pressured DAP to deliver the Chinese vote.

Speaking to reporters at a house visit in Taman Ilham, Kluang, she said election campaigns by government parties can only succeed with the combined efforts of local machinery.

“It’s not just one party’s affair, but I believe it’s a democratic Malaysian affair to make sure it’s a successful electoral process, to ensure that our candidate wins the race,” she said.

Earlier today, Jazlan said DAP cybertroopers, dubbed the “Red Bean Army”, should find it easy to assemble Mahkota’s Chinese voters to cast their ballots for BN on Saturday.

About 35 percent of the Mahkota electorate are Chinese, while 54 percent are Malay, and eight percent are Indian.

The Chinese vote could make or break BN’s bid to defend the seat, and there have been persistent concerns that turnout among the community may be low.

Johor BN deputy chief Nur Jazlan Mohamed

One major factor was perceived unhappiness among the Chinese due to Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh’s attacks on Seputeh MP Teresa Kok over the halal certificate issue.

Meanwhile, Nurul Izzah urged all eligible voters, including the local Chinese community, to “come out in droves” to cast their votes.

“Every vote matters to us. And God willing, we will be able to serve and deliver far better compared to previously,” she said.

She is the first PKR leader to join the campaign trail in Mahkota, visiting homes in Taman Ilham to remind them to vote.

Government candidate Syed Hussien Syed Abdullah, who is also the Kluang Umno Youth chief, faces Perikatan Nasional’s Haizan Jaafar on Sept 28 for the Mahkota state seat, which fell vacant following the death of incumbent assemblyperson Sharifah Azizah Syed Zain on Aug 2. - Mkini