SG KANDIS POLLS | PAS information chief Nasrudin Hasan says that the party decided to sit out the Sungai Kandis by-election so as to not split votes against Pakatan Harapan.
In a Facebook post today, Nasrudin stressed that the people must ensure the defeat of the ruling coalition in the Selangor state seat.
“It (their defeat) will be a signal to the Harapan government that the people will no longer be made use of by the coalition’s failure to fulfil their election promises,” his post read, which was accompanied by the slogan “Asal Bukan Harapan” (Anyone but Harapan).
Among the apparent “failures” listed by Nasrudin are abolishing tolls, reducing the price of fuel, and wiping out the debts of Felda settlers.
Harapan's manifesto does not specifically promise to reduce fuel prices, only that it would provide subsidies for motorcycles under 125cc and cars under 1300cc. It also promised to reduce the debt burden of Felda settlers, and abolish tolls in stages.
Read more: PAS: Sitting out Sg Kandis polls doesn't mean making way for Umno
The PAS leader also termed the Harapan administration “liberal” but “racist,” and accused it of creating an environment that enabled certain quarters to insult Islam.
“Those creating anxiety among Muslims are running rampant, and no action has been taken against them by the Harapan government.
“These include the calls for tahfiz (religious) schools to be closed, being too permissive with the LGBT community, anti-Hadith thinking, not giving important posts in the judiciary to Muslims, liberal thinking, individuals who are said to be terrorist sympathisers becoming government leaders, as well as the dominance of DAP – who are sceptical of the Islamic struggle – in Harapan,” he said.
Earlier this month, former Umno minister Zainuddin Maidin had suggested the closure of tahfiz schools to minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mujahid Yusof Rawa to “bring Muslims out from jumud (close-minded) religious practices.”
“Terrorist sympathisers,” meanwhile, is believed to be a reference to Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy, who has been accused of having links to Sri Lankan separatist movement Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, which the latter has denied.
Straight fight
On July 13, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was reported as saying that discussions were being held with PAS for both parties not to cancel each other out and ensure a straight fight with Harapan’s candidate in Sungai Kandis.
However, PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan later said the party's absence from the by-election was not be construed as the two opposition parties working together.
In his Facebook post, Nasrudin also said that voters have “1,001 reasons” to ensure that Harapan does not retain the Sungai Kandis seat.
“Harapan’s defeat in the Sungai Kandis by-election will relieve them of their delusions of power, so that they will fulfil their election pledges and stop lying to the people.
“The choice is in your hands. The people are the judge,” he said.
The Sungai Kandis state seat was vacated with the passing of former PKR incumbent Mat Shuhaimi Shafiei on July 2 due to lymphoma.
The Aug 4 by-election will see Harapan’s Mohd Zawawi Ahmad Mughni go up against BN’s Lokman Noor Adam and independent candidate K Murthy.
