Umno leaders urge Orang Asli to resist being bought by Harapan

CAMERON POLLS | Umno supreme council member Noh Omar has warned Orang Asli voters about the potential tactics that could be used by the ruling Pakatan Harapan government to win their votes for the upcoming Cameron Highlands by-election.

Speaking at an event in the BN stronghold of Pos Mensun yesterday, Noh alleged that he had seen Orang Asli being bussed to a hotel in Cameron Highlands to be feted.

However, he did not state when the incident had taken place and said he could not be certain who had organised it.

“I worry that tomorrow or the day after, it is you who will be called to that hotel, placed in a hall, given food and told all sorts of stories that slander BN, which will poison your minds.

“[...] Whatever that comes from Pakatan Harapan, from the government now, all that they tell you is not true and is slander,” Noh told the 300-strong crowd.

The former minister further characterised the Harapan government as one which often made U-turns on its decisions and lied to the rakyat.

'Take whatever they give you'

Also present was former Umno minister and BN secretary-general Nazri Abdul Aziz, who urged villagers to accept any handouts given to them but to maintain their support for BN.

“Whatever they give you, you take. Betul (correct)?,” to which the crowd answered, “Betul”.

“If they give you rice, take it! If they give you money, take it! If they give you sugar, take it!

“But your votes, don’t give it to them,” Nazri said.

Prior to last year’s 14th general election, Harapan leaders, most notably coalition chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad, had used similar arguments to dissuade voters from choosing BN.

Noh and Nazri heaped praise upon BN’s candidate for the Cameron Highlands by-election, Ramli Mohd Nor, and appealed to the villagers to back him.

Ramli, once the nation’s highest ranked Orang Asli police officer, hails from Pos Mensun.

The Orang Asli make up about 20 percent of voters in Cameron Highlands.

The Jan 26 by-election was called after the court found that vote-buying had led to MIC vice-president C Sivarraajh’s win in the 14th general election.

This time, Ramli will be up against Harapan’s M Manogaran as well as two independent candidates, Sallehudin Ab Talib and Wong Seng Yee. - Mkini