DAP MP's bouquets for MIC boss, brickbats for Ramasamy

 

DAP lawmaker RSN Rayer launched a vitriolic salvo against his former comrade P Ramasamy and those aligned to the latter who are campaigning against Pakatan Harapan in the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election.

The Jelutong MP, who thanked Ummo president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and MIC president SA Vigneswaran, for supporting the coalition candidate, said he is not surprised by the former Penang deputy chief minister’s actions.

“But I wonder whether Ramasamy and his sidekicks would be doing the same thing if they were given a chance to contest in the last state election in Penang last year and if Ramasamy was still the deputy chief minister?” he asked in a statement.

Rayer (above) pointed out that until August last year, Ramasamy had been a “staunch supporter and ally” of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and a “vocal defender” of the coalition government.

“Once dropped as a candidate, Ramasamy and his sidekicks changed their tunes and started attacking the coalition government and Anwar,” he added.

He also pointed out that politics is about “loyalty and principles and not selfish personal interests”.

“In this respect, I would like to sincerely appreciate and laud my former comrades who were once upon a time elected representatives, like Charles Santiago, Kasthuri Patto, Phee Boon Poh, and Chong Eng from DAP who still remain loyal to the party and have come out to campaign for us in elections.

“Ramasamy and his sidekicks should all look at themselves in the mirror and ask themselves where they would be now without DAP and Harapan.

“They should stop their disgraceful antics in Kuala Kubu Bharu and stop trying to manipulate the Kuala Kubu Bharu voters for their personal interests,” he added.

Ex-Penang deputy chief minister P Ramasamy

Ramasamy, who now heads the DAP splinter party Urimai, has urged voters in Kuala Kubu Baharu not to cast their ballots for Harapan.

He said Anwar should be “taught a lesson” for not fulfilling his promises to Malaysians.

Previously, Malaysiakini reported that there were certain quarters urging Indian voters in Kuala Kubu Baharu to boycott the polls, claiming that the government has neglected the community. - Mkini

Pang is not Nga's proxy, Fahmi tells 'sexist' PN leader

KKB BY-ELECTION | Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil today defended Pakatan Harapan’s Kuala Kubu Baharu candidate Pang Sock Tau against claims that she was a “proxy” of Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming.

Specifically, Fahmi condemned Bersatu supreme council member Dr Afif Bahardin for his “sexist” claims against Pang, made while on the campaign trail for Perikatan Nasional candidate Khairul Azhari Saut.

He said Afif does not seem to recognise the capability of a female candidate to be independent.

“How can he make such a remark, stating that she (Pang) is someone’s proxy. Pang is independent, she’s not a proxy, just see her records,” said Fahmi (above) as quoted by Bernama.

“Afif is a doctor, (should) use his brain, (and) think clearly. It is as if he is a misogynist.

“Respect a female candidate. He should have encouraged more women to come forward and contest, don’t be sexist,” the government spokesperson told reporters at Wisma Bernama in Kuala Lumpur.

He reportedly said this after launching a function with strategic partners for the upcoming Hari Wartawan Nasional.

Shah Alam MP Dr Afif Bahardin

In a TikTok video uploaded to his account, Afif described Pang as “Nga Kor Ming’s candidate” who was chosen to supposedly better the DAP vice-chairperson’s chances in the party elections this year.

He further claimed that Pang, 31, if elected, will only speak up on issues of Nga’s interest, rather than for the people in Kuala Kubu Baharu.

Since the start of official campaigns on Sunday, Pang, who is Nga’s former press secretary, has been the target of racial rhetorics from PN leaders, who among others, questioned her Malay language proficiency and vernacular school background. - Mkini

Don’t use mosques, suraus for political activities, reminds Jais

 

Jais director Shahzihan Ahmad said action would be taken against mosque and surau officials who failed to abide by the directive.

SHAH ALAM: The Selangor Islamic religious department (Jais) has reminded its officials to adhere to the directive which prohibits mosques and suraus from being used for political activities.

The directive covers mosque and surau officials as well as marriage registrars, Jais director Shahzihan Ahmad said.

He stressed that this prohibition, as decreed by sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah previously, was still in effect, and would also apply to the ongoing Kuala Kubu Baharu (KKB) by-election campaign.

“Mosque officials, surau administrators, and head teachers are responsible for the premises under their control and must fulfil this duty honestly and sincerely without being influenced by any political sentiment,” he said in a statement.

Shahzihan said failure to comply may result in action being taken in accordance with the law. - FMT