Mahathir’s presence shows PH worried about retaining Tg Piai, says Ku Li

Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah (middle) sharing the stage with MCA leaders (from left) Ti Lian Ker, Dr Mah Hang Soon, Wee Ka Siong and Chong Sin Woon.

PONTIAN: Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah said Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had to come to Tanjung Piai to campaign for his PPBM candidate as he was worried Pakatan Harapan may not retain the seat it won in the last general election.

He told a crowd of 500 people here for MCA’s ceramah that PH had lost in three out of eight by-elections, namely Cameron Highlands, Semenyih and Rantau, held after Pakatan Harapan took over the federal government.

“For Tanjung Piai, we from BN want to reclaim our victory from the loss we suffered a year ago.

“Voters here are smart this time because they have realised that they have been cheated by the government,” he added.

The former finance minister, popularly known as Ku Li, also said PH’s claims that the Umno-PAS cooperation could destroy the rights of non-Muslims are merely lies.

“PAS and other parties like Umno have been here even before our independence. PAS has even ruled Kelantan for almost 30 years,” Tengku Razaleigh said.

Tengku Razaleigh added that the rights of Malaysians, including the non-Muslims, are guaranteed under the Federal Constitution.

“No one can threaten our constitutional rights,” he said.

Meanwhile, the veteran politician mooted an idea for BN to open up for everyone to join as members, regardless of their race or religion, in the spirit of democracy.

“Education, economy and language are among the important issues that concern us.

“As Malaysians, we want a collective voice on these issues,” Tengku Razaleigh said.

“I hope to see Datuk Wee in the Dewan Rakyat right after the Nov 16 by-election,” he said, referring to MCA’s candidate, Wee Jeck Seng.

Tengku Razaleigh lost to Dr Mahathir in the Umno presidential election in 1987 by 43 votes.

Wee is making another bid to win back Tanjung Piai for BN. He is involved in a six-cornered contest against PH’s Karmaine Sardini, Gerakan’s Wendy Subramaniam, Berjasa’s Badhrulhisham Abdul Aziz, as well as two independent candidates, Faridah Aryani Abd Ghaffar and Ang Chuan Lock.

Wee lost to the late Dr Md Farid Md Rafik of PPBM on May 9, last year. Farid won with a majority of 524 votes, defeating Wee and PAS’ candidate Nordin Othman.

Farid died due to heart complications on Sept 21. - FMT