PH sticks to own agenda while BN-PN tussle on race, says Tengku Zafrul

 PKR's Tengku Zafrul Aziz says BN's reaction to a controversial statement by PN election director Sanusi Nor showed that 'there are many issues that seem incompatible' between them.

Tengku Zafrul Aziz, who is on PKR’s political bureau, said the important thing for PH ‘is to focus on what we are doing’.

KUALA PILAH:

Pakatan Harapan will continue to focus on its agenda while its rivals Perikatan Nasional and Barisan Nasional struggle with racial issues, PKR’s Tengku Zafrul Aziz said today.

Tengku Zafrul, a member of PKR’s political bureau, said BN’s reaction to a controversial statement by PN election director Sanusi Nor showed that “there are many issues that seem incompatible” between them.

“The important thing for PH is to focus on what we are doing. Whatever happens at the PN-BN level, we will let it be,” he told reporters while campaigning for Noorzunita Begum Mohd Ibrahim, the PH candidate who seeks re-election in the Pilah state seat.

Tengku Zafrul was responding to PH chairman Anwar Ibrahim’s statement that no leader should make statements that could offend the feelings of other races. “These racial issues should not be used for politics,” he said.

Sanusi has come under criticism over his remarks while campaigning in the Negeri Sembilan state election. On Thursday night, Sanusi was reported to have said: “Malays only have this Malaya. Indians only have India, Chinese only have China, Cambodians only have Cambodia, Siamese only have Thailand. Where are the Malays? Malays only here.”

Among those who criticised his remarks was BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi who suggested that Sanusi should not come to campaign in Negeri Sembilan and should stay in Kedah. Sanusi is menteri besar of Kedah.

Earlier today, Sanusi said his remarks had been distorted, and he threatened to take legal action.

‘Good response in Pilah’

Tengku Zafrul said voter sentiment in the Pilah constituency was extremely positive towards PH, driven by the coalition’s solid governance track record and hard work by grassroots machinery.

He said on-ground surveys and feedback showed local residents appreciated the efforts of Noorzunita during her term as the assembly member.

He said analyses and ground assessments showed that “voter sentiment and acceptance towards our candidate is high”. However, he cautioned that PH could not be overconfident or complacent. 

However, he was hopeful PH would be able to retain the seat.

“Kuala Pilah holds immense potential. Although the economic spillover in certain areas is indirect, we are constantly formulating strategies to attract new investments and expand economic coverage more equitably across Negeri Sembilan,” he said.

Noorzunita faces S Leza Md Yasin (BN) in a straight fight for the Pilah seat, which she won in 2023 with a majority of 1,079 votes.

BN is contesting 25 seats in the Negeri Sembilan state assembly and PN in 11 following an understanding between the two coalitions. PH is contesting all 36 seats. 

Polling takes place on Aug 1, with early voting to be held on Tuesday. - FMT