Pakatan Harapan’s candidate for Simpang Jeram, Nazri Abdul Rahman, has been touted as being capable of resolving flooding issues in the state, as well as preventing a “flood of support” for PAS in Johor.
BN chairperson Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said this about Nazri, who is a trained engineer, adding that said PAS must be prevented from increasing their presence in the state.
The Islamist party has one seat in the Johor state assembly - Maharani.
“We must prevent the entry of the ‘PAS flood’ into Johor... We don’t want another PAS assemblyperson in Simpang Jeram.
“Therefore, the flood expert (Nazri) must stop this flood (of PAS support) and instead make sure Harapan-BN is the one to flood the whole of Johor as the strongest unity state in the whole country,” said Zahid.
He was giving a speech to party machinery from the Bakri Umno division today.
Prior to entering active politics, Nazri served as the head of the Muar Municipal Council’s engineering division.
Simpang Jeram, vacated due to the death of its incumbent Salahuddin Ayub, is one of three state seats under the Bakri parliamentary constituency, the other two being Bentayan and Bukit Naning.
While the Salahuddin first won the seat in GE14 and defended it for Harapan in the Johor election last March, Zahid noted PAS still has roots in the area, and urged Nazri to explain to voters how the PN component party “manipulated religion for victory”.
“Share your experiences while in PAS, because we too were ‘conned’ by them,” said Zahid, referring to Nazri’s 30 years as a PAS member.
PAS is like a sharp bamboo
Zahid added that Umno previously tried to view PAS in a positive light under the Muafakat Nasional pact which broke down in the months leading up to the 15th general election last year.
“In that time, we learnt of their true nature and so we know PAS is like a ‘sharp bamboo’, ever ready to strike behind our back,” he said.
Johor Menteri Besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi also echoed Zahid’s call for PAS to be prevented from expanding its influence in the state.
“The president (Zahid) met with Bakri Umno members and reminded us of importance to defend the (Simpang Jeram) seat.
“We will not allow them to expand even one inch more in Johor,” said Onn who stressed the importance of maintaining state and federal relations to ensure development.
Meanwhile, Zahid in another shot at PAS claimed the party is now “riding on” Bersatu to strengthen its position.
“This can clearly be seen in the recent six state elections where PAS won more seats.
“Therefore in Johor, I ask all our state machinery to safeguard the state as the unity government’s ‘fixed deposit’.
“Only voters in Bakri and Simpang Jeram can deny them (PAS) their intentions,” stressed Zahid.
Nazri is up against PN’s Dr Mohd Mazri Yahya and independent candidate S Jeganathan in the Sept 9 by-election. - Mkini
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