JOHOR BY-ELECTIONS | Amanah president Mohamad Sabu said the victory of the unity government candidates in the two by-elections on Sept 9 is important to show that the people want to uphold unity and harmony.
Mohamad, who is also the agriculture and food security minister, said that it would send a message that the people want to block the progress of religious and racial extremists.
"The victory of this government’s representative candidates is important because we do not want racial extremists or religious extremists to dominate the situation (government administration).
"We have seen in some other Islamic countries that have been destroyed to the point of causing the people to be impoverished, lose their property and so on.
"We don't want to fight outside battles, instead we build unity between these races including through the unity government that exists today," he said while speaking at a Pakatan Harapan talk at Wisma DAP Muar, Taman Sakeh Baru, last night.
Also present were Terengganu Harapan Chairperson Raja Kamarul Bahrin Shah, Kuala Selangor MP Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad and Bakri MP Tan Hong Pin.
Speaking on the same stage, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke insisted that the issue of race relations is not a problem for the country.
On the other hand, Loke said the problem the country is currently facing is politics from extremist factions.
"Today, we have an issue that is not a racial issue, not an issue between Malays and Chinese or Indians.
"Today the problem is not about the relationship between Malays, Chinese and Indians, but our problem is that there are factions that practice extreme politics, extreme politics, which will divide our country," he said.
No need for hostile attitudes
Loke reminded those who tend to play the 3R issue (king, religion and race) not to pit the issue of race in this country.
"There is no need to be hostile to each other, we have no problem sitting together. Malays, Chinese and Indians have lived together for decades without becoming a problem.
"Chinese are not an enemy to Malays and Malays are not enemies to Indians and Chinese, we are all Malaysians," Loke said.
To ensure that the unity in this country remains intact, Loke reminded the importance of voters in two constituencies this time, namely in the Pulai parliamentary and Simpang Jeram state assembly seats, to go out and vote on Sept 9.
"The vote on Sept 9 is not only choosing a representative but what is more important is choosing the direction of the country.
"We only have one choice, which is to choose to ensure that our country continues to be united and practise cooperative politics, multi-racial, and plural society.
"The extreme path is not our choice, narrow thinking is not our choice, racial politics is not our choice. We only have one choice which is to succeed in this unity project, to succeed in a unity government means to succeed in a pluralistic society in our country.
"So, the by-election this time is to ensure that the direction of the country's politics remains moderate and multi-racial because that’s what Harapan and BN have," he said.
Don't let them topple govt
Meanwhile, Amanah secretary-general Dr Hatta Ramli expressed his confidence that with the victory of the government representative candidate in the two by-elections this time, he will be able to silence the opposition who are trying to destroy democracy and the government that exists today.
"Their job is to bring down the government. We just want to start to wake up again after various episodes in the country, we just want to form a government, just nine months (governing but never ending) being harassed non-stop.
"But believe me if we have victories for Nazri Abdul Rahman in Simpang Jeram and Suhaizan Kaiat in Pulai, we will shut the mouths of the opposition.
"They can no longer say they want to topple the government," he said.
Hatta explained that the opposition's continued efforts to topple the existing government are a political offence that should not be allowed.
"We cannot topple the government all the time, except through elections. So, we need to unite, and this is the unity government that has been built.
"Let us administer for five years, then you can make an assessment. We will be free to choose again in five years," he said.
The Simpang Jeram and Pulai by-elections are being held on Sept 9 due to the unexpected vacancy of the two seats following the death of domestic trade and cost of living minister Salahuddin Ayub on July 23.
There will be a three-way clash for Simpang Jeram, between Harapan candidate Nazri, Perikatan Nasional’s Dr Mohd Mazri Yahya, and independent S Jeganathan.
In Pulai, Harapan’s Suhaizan will face PN’s Zulkifli Jaafar and independent candidate Samsudin Mohamad Fauzi. - Mkini
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