Lim Kit Siang has urged voters in Cameron Highlands to make history for the third time by electing Pakatan Harapan candidate M Manogaran in the Jan 26 by-election.

According to the DAP veteran, Malaysians created two historic events last year, the first being BN's defeat in the 14th general election.

“Second, history was also made on Nov 30, 2018, following the heroic testimony of Orang Asli witnesses when the Election Court declared the Cameron Highlands election of MIC's C Sivarraajh as MP null and void because of corrupt election practices and money politics.

“Let us make a third history on Jan 26 by electing a Harapan MP for the first time in the nation's history, signifying that the next general election in four years' time will be a contest for Harapan to capture the Pahang state government and appoint a new menteri besar for the state,” he added.

According to Lim, if Manogaran is elected, then Harapan stands a good chance of capturing the state government in the next national polls.

“To many, it is unthinkable Umno can lose the Pahang state government and menteri besar post.

“But only eight months ago, it was unthinkable Umno could lose the federal government and the post of prime minister but both events occurred,” he said in a statement.

The Iskandar Puteri MP said capturing Pahang would be a difficult task but not impossible.

“The Cameron Highlands by-election is, therefore, the curtain-raiser for the great battle for Pahang state power in the next general election,” he added.

Mangoran from DAP is expected to face a strong challenge from BN's candidate, former assistant commissioner of police Ramli Mohd Noor.

Ramli, who is a local, was the highest ranked Orang Asli police officer in the nation's history.

The Orang Asli make up about 20 percent of the Cameron Highlands electorate, with Malays at 34 percent, Chinese 30 percent and Indians at 15 percent.