MUAR, Sept 3 — Young voters have indicated their strong support for Pakatan Harapan (Harapan) candidates in the Pulai parliamentary and Simpang Jeram state by-elections throughout the campaign period so far, Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh said.
He hoped that the positive momentum would continue and translate into votes at the ballot boxes on September 9 and help secure victory for Harapan.
“We’re using a slightly different strategy, which is a one-to-one approach. We go to each branch to provide clear explanations as there are several informational issues that have not trickled down since the setting up of the new government and the six state elections.
“This has raised doubts. So, we are focusing on Umno Youth in terms of strategy, to bring out as many of our members to vote this September 9 and to vote for the Unity Government,” the Merlimau assemblyman told reporters during a community outreach programme at Kampung Kenangan Tun Dr Ismail 2 here today.
On Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s statement yesterday that it is a sin to vote for Harapan, he said that as a former prime minister, the Pagoh MP should not have issued such statement as it is unhealthy and could cause disunity among Malaysians.
“Muyhiddin is a leader, so the public will be affected each time he speaks. As a fellow leader, I feel we can have a difference in opinions and debate about ideology and policies, but such things (like religious sins) are not good for Malaysians.
“We want to campaign decently as we need matured and progressive politics. What’s sinful in religion isn’t ours to determine, so avoid such things and we hope this can stop so that we can campaign properly,” Akmal said.
Muhyiddin’s claim that it was a sin to vote for Harapan candidate for Pulai, Suhaizan Kailat during a political ceramah in Dataran Utama Kempas yesterday had invited a slew of reactions from Malaysians.
Early voting for the by-elections will be held on September 5, with polling day on September 9.
— Bernama
