PN banking on youth to capture Negeri Sembilan in state polls

 

Perikatan Nasional (PN) is confident of winning in the upcoming Negeri Sembilan state election because young supporters have rejected Umno, particularly the leadership of Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, according to former Seremban Umno Youth chief Zool Amali Hussin.

PN's effort to attract the youth has become easier after the recently concluded Umno general assembly, which passed a motion for the party's top two positions not to be contested, he said.

For the record, the motion was proposed by Negeri Sembilan delegate Mohd Shukri Samsudin.

Zool (above) said PN can win 20 out of 36 state seats in the coming state election and thus become the new state government.

"In the state polls, we believe that many from Pakatan Harapan and Umno will change their minds and their votes will go to one place, which is PN," he was quoted as saying by The Malaysian Insight.

"I am happy that there are no elections for Umno president and deputy president posts because it is easier now to attract the confused Umno members."

"They don’t know what’s happening. They want to leave the party because they are afraid of being ridiculed. I am sure they will vote for PN," he said.

"The youth have rejected Zahid because of his corruption case," he said.

Malay seats

Malay votes will continue to swing to PN as the voters are disheartened by BN's move to form a unity government with Harapan after the 15th general election (GE15).

Zool said this was the reason why he and 50 other members from Kampung Rawa Lenggeng branch decided to quit Umno.

He believed this is a sentiment shared nationwide, including the BN and Harapan supporters.

"During GE15 campaign, Harapan attacked Umno and vice versa. Now its grassroots supporters, especially the youth, feel deceived. They voted for BN against Harapan, while Harapan supporters voted against BN.

"They felt that the leaders had violated their rights as voters. They went out to vote (against Harapan) but in the end, both BN and Harapan are now together. That is what will give PN an advantage (in the state polls)."

"We can target the Malay seats in Negeri Sembilan and the rest is strategy. We won’t be revealing our plans to the public just yet,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

There are some 27 Malay-majority state seats in the state.

"For me it’s easy: the target of (obtaining) 20 state seats is enough (for PN) to take over Negeri Sembilan," he said.

Harapan won 20 out of the 36 state seats in the 14th general election (GE14) in 2018. The remaining 16 seats were won by BN.

It was reported that menteris besar and chief minister from Harapan-led states are in talk with PAS-led states on suitable dates to hold the state elections.

Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Aminuddin Harun had opined that June is the best time to hold the state polls. - Mkini