State polls not referendum on federal govt, Bersih reminds voters

Electoral watchdog Bersih has reminded voters that the upcoming elections in six states are not a referendum on the federal government. 

Its chairperson Thomas Fann noted that both sides of the divide appeared to be campaigning along those lines.

This scenario, he said, has distracted the focus from the competency of political parties or candidates who will form the respective state governments for the next five years.

“Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) campaign has largely been attacking the government for its alleged failure to defend the ‘3Rs’ (race, religion, and royalty) and the economy.

“In their defence, the government has countered with their track record on the 3Rs,” he told Malaysiakini. 

However, Fann (above) stressed that the six state elections are about the governance of the states and have nothing to do with the federal government, 3Rs, or even the national economy.

“We have to elect better state governments and hold them accountable for their past performances and their future promises,” he added.

Message to Putrajaya

PN chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin has repeatedly stated that the state elections should serve as a referendum on the federal government and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s leadership.

PN chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin

On Monday, the former prime minister repeated the same at the PN election convention in Selangor, urging voters in the state to send a message to Putrajaya.

“That is why it is important for us to ask the voters in Selangor to give us a chance.

“We want to use this (Selangor state election) as a referendum, we want to start with Selangor,” he said in his speech.

Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is lending his support to PN, has also been campaigning in a similar vein, urging Malays to come together in the state polls.

On Aug 12, apart from Selangor, which is Pakatan Harapan’s crown jewel, the other states which will hold their polls are Negeri Sembilan, Penang, Kedah, Kelantan, and Terengganu.

Negeri Sembilan and Penang are controlled by Harapan whereas the other three are under PAS rule. - Mkini