‘No problem’ voting for coalition allies, says Amanah man

 

Salahuddin Ayub with coalition allies (from left) Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, Fahmi Fadzil and Nga Kor Ming at a screening of the film Anwar Ibrahim: The Untold Story last week. (Facebook pic)

JOHOR BAHRU: Grassroot members of parties in the unity goverment coalition will have no problem in voting for candidates from another coalition partner in the coming elections in six states, says Amanah deputy president Salahuddin Ayub.

Salahuddin said he believed members of parties in Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional will give their support and votes to the candidates to be fielded.

Based on his experience, he said party members would vote for candidates that have been approved by their leaders, Bernama reported.

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His confidence was in contrast to the view of Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin, an Umno member for 40 years before he left to set up his party in 2016.

He said it was “strange” to hear an Umno leader urging party members to support DAP, their rivals-turned-allies in the unity government, as stated by Umno Supreme Council member Ahmad Maslan on Thursday.

“It’s an awkward instruction,” he said, noting that it was the first time he had heard Umno members being urged by party leaders to vote for DAP.

However, Salahuddin said: “We hope that votes from PH will be translated into support for BN and vice versa, this transformation is important, so I hope, with that consensus, the candidates, whether from PH or BN, will get the voters’ support.”

Ahmad Maslan said Umno voters should vote for DAP candidates in the coming state elections, in order to strengthen the unity government formed by PH, BN and East Malaysian parties.

Elections to the state assemblies of Kedah, Penang, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Kelantan and Terengganu are due to be held after July. - FMT