Check on candidates’ performance before voting, says Johari

 

Federal territories Umno chief Johari Ghani at a Deepavali event in Kuala Lumpur.

PETALING JAYA: Former second finance minister Johari Ghani has reminded the public that it is important to evaluate the performance of election candidates before casting their votes at the coming general election.

With Malaysia facing economic instability, competent and credible leaders were needed to govern the country, the federal territories Umno chief said.

“For the past four years, the country has been facing economic challenges. Debt is increasing, revenue (for the country) is stagnant, Malaysia’s currency is depreciating and financial resources of the government are limited,” he said.

He was speaking at a Deepavali get-together in Kuala Lumpur, where he distributed contributions to residents of Kampung Pandan and Taman Maluri.

Johari said if the country’s economy remained the same, Malaysia would need to borrow more money which would affect the livelihoods of the people.

He also reminded families in the B40 community to give priority to education for their children. “This will be the only way for B40 families to get out from the vicious cycle of poverty,” he said.

Meanwhile, Johari, who is widely expected to contest the Titiwangsa seat after serving as MP from 2013 to 2018, said he continued serving the constituency despite losing to Rina Harun (then with Pakatan Harapan) in 2018.

His rival is expected to be Bersatu Youth leader Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal, head of the Bersatu division there.

Rina is believed to be contesting the Sepang seat as a Bersatu candidate. She had won in Titiwangsa in 2018 with a 4,139-vote majority over Johari and Noor Mohamad of PAS. - FMT