N SEMBILAN POLLS | DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke has dismissed claims by an Umno Youth leader that a faction within the party is working to sabotage his campaign for the Chennah seat.
“No, that is not true. There is no truth to that at all. It is just a psychological war (by Pakatan Harapan rivals).
“(DAP adviser) Lim Guan Eng himself has come down here to give his support on nomination day.
“The claim is not true, and I am thankful to the DAP machinery as they have come here in droves to help my campaign activities,” Loke told reporters after attending a campaign event in Kampung Sungai Rotan earlier this evening.
The transport minister was responding to a social media post by Umno Youth exco member Fadzmel Fadzil, who claimed there was an attempt by “Dinasti Lim” to cause Loke’s defeat in Chennah.
Fadzmel, who is also press secretary to Deputy Prime Minister and Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, alleged that the effort involved a faction in DAP aligned with Lim.
Loke, a three-term Chennah assemblyperson, is defending the seat against BN candidate John Siow Kong Choon.
Whisper campaign claims
Meanwhile, Loke acknowledged that convincing Malay voters remained a challenge in his campaign.
He claimed that Harapan’s rivals were attempting to frighten Malays into believing that supporting the coalition would result in them losing political power to the Chinese.
According to Loke, these rivals had been carrying out a “kempen bisik-bisik” (whisper campaign) among villagers to spread such sentiments.
“That’s the only sentiment they’re banking on.
“We need to counter it with greater clarity and intensify our outreach to the grassroots because I believe some villagers have been affected by such sentiments,” he said.
Chennah is a mixed constituency with 14,422 voters, comprising Malays (48.49 percent), Chinese (42.57 percent), Indians (two percent), and others (6.93 percent).
Loke said he would explain to Malay voters that such claims were baseless, pointing out that the Negeri Sembilan state constitution stipulates that only a Malay Muslim can become menteri besar.
He added that Harapan had governed the state for about eight years and it had always been led by a Malay.
Hitting back at Sanusi
Loke also criticised remarks by Kedah Menteri Besar Sanusi Nor suggesting that non-Malays have other countries to seek refuge in.
He said it was unfortunate that such remarks were made by a political leader, adding that they reflected PAS’ true colours.
“We have been living in Malaysia and enjoying our independence for almost 70 years. We should celebrate every citizen as ‘anak Malaysia’.
“While our people come from various racial and religious backgrounds, the position of the Malays is already enshrined in the Federal Constitution, and it has never been questioned.
“But the Chinese and the Indians have been citizens here for many generations. Like myself, I am in the third generation; I do not have any place in China anymore, and if I go to China, I have to use a Malaysian passport because my home is Malaysia,” Loke said.
The Seremban MP said Sanusi’s remarks were an insult to multiracial Malaysians as they appeared to question the loyalty of Chinese and Indian citizens.
He said voters should recognise that the comments reflected PAS’ worldview and the direction the party would take the country if given the mandate to govern.
Sanusi had, during a joint BN-PN ceramah three days ago, said Malaysia was the only homeland for Malays, while other ethnic groups had ancestral countries they could turn to.
“Malays have no other land. Malays only have this Tanah Melayu. Indians have India, Chinese have China, Cambodians have Cambodia, and the Siamese have Thailand. Where do the Malays go? Malays are only here,” he told an audience of more than 300 people.
However, after facing criticism over the remarks, Sanusi threatened to take legal action and lodge police reports against those whom he claimed had distorted his comments. - Mkini
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