Sanusi's potty mouth, PN's 'slander' turned against them

PELANGAI ROUNDUP II | In some parts of Malaysia, Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor has been treated like a rock star, but not so much in the sleepy hollow of Pelangai.

Unlike PAS' usual crop of pious religious leaders whose staple are political speeches peppered with religious teachings, Sanusi adopted a "penglipur lara" (storyteller) persona, albeit one with crude humour.

Sanusi, who is the chief executive of Kedah, shockingly uttered a Hokkien "L-word" during a rally on June 4 which made waves on social media.

For the Pelangai campaign, Sanusi, a day before nomination, made reference to Ipoh Timor MP Howard Lee's genitalia on stage, this time using a vulgar Malay "K-word".

Although Sanusi has not participated in the campaign since then, his penchant for vulgarities and insults has become campaign material for BN and Pakatan Harapan to illustrate how Perikatan Nasional leaders are antithetical to the religious messages that they preach.

"What puzzles me is how (PAS) leaders and their senior ulama keep quiet (about Sanusi cursing during ceramah).

"It was like the ulama gave him 'cop halal' (permission), that he can curse and insult others," Amanah vice-president Mahfuz Omar told a ceramah in Felda Kemasul over the weekend.

PM's sermon questioned

For BN and Harapan leaders, Sanusi's behaviour underscored what was wrong with PN - that it was good at spinning tall tales and slander while being light on policy that affected the local populace.

A popular topic among PN leaders of late has been Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's recent visit to New York for the United Nations General Assembly.

At the sidelines of the assembly, Anwar delivered a Friday sermon at the Islamic Cultural Centre of New York (ICCNY), and this too was criticised by PN leaders in Pelangai.

Sanusi, for example, claimed that not many UN delegates stayed for Anwar's speech because the international community purportedly knew him as a liar.

"Anwar gave a Friday sermon in New York, it got into the news. What is there to be excited about? We have Friday sermons here every week, didn't even get into the news.

"He just went there to lie to the New Yorkers," Sanusi said, to the amusement of PN supporters.

As for Pahang Bersatu chief Saifuddin Abdullah, he has been telling Pelangai folk that Anwar was wrong for using the term "invasion" to describe Russia's war in Ukraine when addressing the UN general assembly.

These allegations were rebutted by BN and Harapan during their ceramahs, who used this as yet another example of PN's habit of spreading misinformation.

Anwar, for the one time he came to Pelangai on Monday to campaign, turned this to the government coalition's advantage to portray PAS and PN as a rude political front.

"You can disagree with me, with Harapan or even DAP, but do not go to the extent of 'menghina, mencaci'," Anwar said.

Felda battleground

In the second half of the campaign, BN and Harapan ramped up their efforts in the three Felda settlements in the constituency where half the Pelangai voters come from.

Although Felda settlements have historically been difficult for Anwar's party, PKR, to influence, he was greeted by about 1,000 people when he attended a Felda event on Oct 2.

Anwar reminded Felda settlers that it was his administration that made good a debt waiver scheme for settlers that was initiated when Muhyiddin Yassin was prime minister.

Perikatan Nasional chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin

This, said Anwar, because it was he who pulled the levers of power needed to secure the RM8.3 billion needed, and this had received the support of his ally DAP - a party often demonised by PN.

"(DAP) said this money is for the Felda people who are in financial difficulties, no problem.

"So why do you want to be angry with DAP? Because they are Chinese?" Anwar asked those present.

PN offering another putsch

A day later, PN chief Muhyiddin switched gears and told Pelangai voters that if they elected a PN lawmaker, there was a possibility that this could lead to a change in the Pahang government.

Muhyiddin made it explicitly clear that Pahang, unlike most states, does not have laws that prevent lawmakers from defecting.

“(If this happens), (PAS deputy president) Tuan Ibrahim (Tuan Man), God willing, will be the next Pahang menteri besar," he said.

Muhyiddin's offer came two days before Akademi Pengajian Melayu Universiti Malaya (APM) released its survey results which revealed that only 13 percent of respondents disagreed that the state government should be changed.

"(Respondents found) PN's narrative about changing federal or state governments to be irrational and this might have led to respondents losing confidence in PN," said APM.

Pelangai voters will go to the polls tomorrow (Oct 7). - Mkini