Focus on candidates, don’t dwell on predictions, Hisham tells BN workers

 The Umno MP for Sembrong says that eventually, the voters are the ones who decide the outcome of the election.

Sembrong MP Hishammuddin Hussein at a meet-and-greet programme with the Orang Asli community in Kahang, Johor, today.

KLUANG:

Former Umno vice-president Hishammuddin Hussein has reminded Barisan Nasional campaign workers not to dwell on predictions about the coalition’s winning majority in the Johor state election, but to focus on introducing their candidates to voters instead.

Hishammuddin, whose six-year suspension from Umno was lifted recently, said only the voters would determine the election outcome, and efforts to engage with the people should remain the top priority throughout the campaign period.

“We can say whatever we want, but the people who decide who wins are the voters in Sembrong. If we are too preoccupied with the size of the majority or distracted by various perceptions, we won’t have time to reach out to voters.

“In the end, they (the voters) will decide whether our candidate wins by a larger majority or otherwise,” he said after attending a meet-and-greet programme with the Orang Asli community in Kahang.

Hishammuddin is the MP for Sembrong.

On June 28, FMT reported that Johor BN’s leaders were expected to hold a pow-wow after its latest internal research projected a lower victory margin than expected at the July 11 state polls.

A BN leader told FMT the coalition had initially set a target of winning 40 to 42 seats in the 56-seat state assembly. However, BN’s recent research showed it could win 35 seats, and the meeting was about how to push that number above 40.

However, former DAP MP Ong Kian Ming said today BN’s chances of a landslide win in the Johor polls are increasing. He said the Umno-led coalition could end up sweeping 53 seats.

Hishammuddin said he expects race- and religion-based narratives to feature prominently throughout the campaign, but believes BN’s cooperation in the Sembrong parliamentary constituency can serve as an example of unity.

He said BN’s candidate for the Kahang state seat is from MIC, while its candidate for Paloh is from MCA, whereas he himself is the Umno MP for Sembrong.

“If these three races can work closely together and serve the people regardless of race, religion or skin colour, I think we can set an example for those who like to exploit racial and religious sentiments for political gain,” he said.

The Kahang state seat will see a three-cornered contest involving BN’s V Rugendran, Sabri Abd Kadir of Pakatan Harapan, and Mazlan Bujang of Perikatan Nasional.

In the previous election, MIC’s R Vidyananthan, who contested under the BN banner, won the seat with a majority of 6,698 votes. - FMT