Sanusi won’t sway Johor folk, says Nur Jazlan

 

Pulai Umno chief Nur Jazlan Mohamed (left) said in Johor, individuals like Kedah menteri besar Sanusi Nor are not popular because the people are not extremists.

PETALING JAYA: Pulai Umno chief Nur Jazlan Mohamed says Kedah menteri besar Sanusi Nor’s “extreme personality” will not sway Johor residents, including voters in the Pulai parliamentary by-election.

Sanusi grabbed the headlines ahead of the six state elections on Aug 12 with his controversial claims during the campaign period.

Stating that the Malay community in Johor is more moderate when discussing race and religion, Nur Jazlan said that Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) rhetoric on such issues would not persuade the state’s residents to vote for the opposition in the Pulai by-election next month.

“Don’t confuse the northern and eastern states with the southern state of Malaysia,” said the former Pulai MP in a Kosmo report.

“In Johor, individuals like Sanusi are not popular because the people of Johor receive religious education through government schools, so they are not extremists,” said Nur Jazlan.

“The Malays in Johor are also very objective when voting and won’t be easily swayed by religious and ethnic issues played up by PN,” he said.

The Umno Supreme Council member also refuted PN chairman Muhyiddin Yassin’s claim that the coalition could garner 90% support from Malay voters in the Pulai parliamentary by-election.

Nur Jazlan said that PAS, in particular, did not have grassroots support in southern Johor.

“…in northern Johor, there might be a slight presence due to Muhyiddin’s influence, and also in the Mersing area, but not in Pulai,” he said.

A former Johor menteri besar, Muhyiddin has held the Pagoh parliamentary seat since 1995. He was also the Pagoh MP from 1978 to 1986.

Sanusi yesterday said the Simpang Jeram state seat by-election would serve as a gateway for PN to establish a foothold in Johor before taking over the state.

“I am confident that Simpang Jeram and Pulai will be an important determinant for us to send a message to the prime minister,” he said in a Berita Harian report.

“The wave that broke out in the recent six state elections will reach Johor and even go all the way to Singapore.”

The by-elections for the Pulai parliamentary and Simpang Jeram state seats will be held on Sept 9, following the death of MP and assemblyman Salahuddin Ayub on July 23. - FMT