Faced with racial and religious onslaught, Harapan ropes in Nik Omar

CAMERON POLLS | The sleepy Felda settlement of Sungai Koyan in Cameron Highlands has never been so lively, as cars made a beeline to two concurrent ceramahs just opposite of each other, one by PAS and Umno, and another, by Pakatan Harapan last night.

Umno and PAS leaders spoke with confidence to the crowd of more than 1,000 people, as they thundered away about Harapan, and in particular's DAP's alleged threats to Malays and Islam.

Across the road, a smaller crowd gathered to hear Nik Omar Nik Abdul Aziz speak, the son of the late PAS spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, who is now part of Amanah and Harapan.

The crowd was less than 200, but every person mattered in an area where Harapan could hardly capture 10 percent of the votes in the last general election.

Nik Omar, in his usual soft-spoken demeanour, spoke out against the opposition call not to vote for Harapan's candidate M Manogaran because he is not a Muslim.

The opposition, led by BN, has fielded a Muslim Orang Asli candidate in the form of Ramli Mohd Nor, a former senior cop.

'Even though we choose a leader who is non-Muslim, we are confident we choose him, not because of his religion, but because he is part of a team and government that practices Islam," he said.

Without mentioning names, Nik Omar also alluded to PAS leaders who had similarly asked voters to back non-Muslim candidates when the Islamist party previously worked with component parties in Harapan, but are now saying otherwise.

"How could it be that at one time they could vote (non-Muslims) but are now saying other people cannot do so?" he said.

Nik Omar also shared his late father's words on supporting non-Muslims in the election.

"We support not because of religion but because he stands with us for the good of the people, country and religion," he said.

Nik Omar was responding to another joint-ceramah by Umno and PAS last Friday where their leaders claimed that failing to vote BN would harm Malays and Islam.

He stressed the need to support a government that emphasises anti-corruption instead of one that had a history of graft.

"If the people of Cameron Highlands supports a coalition that had run the government for 61-years, what is there for Malaysia and Malays to gain? It will become worse.

"I urge my brothers and sisters in Cameron Highlands to make a change. Give Harapan a chance even though it has a non-Muslim candidate as it emphasises on the people's interest and manages the country's assets well," he said.

The ceramah also featured Fauwaz Fadzil, the son of former PAS president Fadzil Noor.

The Cameron Highlands parliamentary seat is a traditional MIC seat. The party's victory in the last general election was voided by the Election Court after there was evidence of vote-buying.

MIC had made way in this by-election for Ramli, who was fielded as a direct BN candidate.

Two independent candidates are also contesting, namely Wong Seng Kee and Sallehudin Ab Talib, but are not expected to put up a serious challenge against the candidates from established parties.

Cameron Highlands voters will go to the polls on Jan 26. - Mkini