THE Perikatan Nasional (PN) wave that had swept across the nation during the most recent six state elections on Aug 12 is expected to happen again with its influx starting from Muar before ending in Johor Bahru, a PN leader said.
Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor claimed that the forthcoming Simpang Jeram by-election will pave the way for the “PN wave” to make its way into Johor, adding that the coalition has done its homework on the matter and that it is only a matter of time before the wave reaches Johor.
“The wave that was triggered in the recently concluded state elections will reach this state all the way down to Singapore,” Sanusi said in a press conference after launching the Simpang Jeram PN election machinery on Wednesday (Aug 23) night.
“Johor will not be excluded. It will start here in Simpang Jeram. In another two-and-a-half years comes the Johor state election, and we will take over this state.”
Also present were PAS deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, Johor PN Chairman, Datuk Dr Sahruddin Jamal, PAS vice president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar and PAS secretary general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan.
Sanusi, who is also Kedah Menteri Besar, said PN plans to woo Chinese voters, who make up about 43.32% of the voters in Simpang Jeram by making them understand the actual reality of the coalition.
“They need to make them understand that we are not extremists. They think that (in states under PN), the Chinese are not allowed to wear shorts and that unisex salons are banned. That did not happen. We are not that extreme,” the PN election director said.
Sanusi also noted that PN’s component party, Gerakan, will also assist in gaining the support of the Chinese community.
“We have speakers that can talk to the community in Mandarin. The important thing is for them to understand what we really are,” he remarked.
The two-term Jeneri assemblyman further pointed out that this by-election means a lot to Malaysian politics not only for the people of Johor, but it signals that Malaysia can be saved from greedy hands.
“The signal will start at Simpang Jeram, Insya-Allah (God willing) Johoreans can teach those fraudsters to stop talking.
“I hope Simpang Jeram will receive aura from six states (Terengganu, Kelantan, Kedah, Negeri Sembilan, Penang and Selangor).
“The PN wave has hit the East Coast, the North, and all the way down to the South of the country, and I am confident that Simpan Jeram and Pulai will be key determinants in sending a message to the Prime Minister.
“Who would have thought that the strongest DAP state in the world, Penang, would lose 11 seats…no one thought, but I knew because they (Penang) are my neighbours,” Sanusi remarked.
Yesterday (April 23), PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin named the coalition’s two candidates for the Pulai parliamentary and Simpang Jeram state by-elections with Bersatu’s Zulkifli Jaafar vying for the Pulai parliamentary seat and PAS’ Dr Mohd Mazri Yahya contesting the Simpang Jeram state constituency.
The Election Commission (EC) has fixed nomination day for both by-elections on August 26 and polling day on September 9, while early voting is on September 5.
The two by-elections were called after Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub, who was the incumbent for both seats, died on July 23 due to a brain hemorrhage. He was 61. – Aug 24, 2023
Main pic credit: Facebook/ Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor
