SIMPANG Jeram Pakatan Harapan (PH) election director Dr Sheikh Ibrahim Sheikh Salleh has claimed that the Chinese community and voters fear the thought of having PAS as the ruling government.
In an interview with Malaysiakini at his resident in Muar, Johor, Dr Sheikh Ibrahim said the fear stemmed from the PAS’ current leadership style, and that the Chinese community and voters are worried about their future if the Islamist party takes over the country.
“For instance, businesspersons are worried about the trends that are happening in our country today,” Dr Sheikh Ibrahim was quoted as saying by the news portal yesterday (Sept 6).
The former two-term Sungai Abong (now known as Simpang Jeram) assemblyman remarked this when commenting on the difference between the Islamist party’s previous and current leadership style.
“The concerns of the Chinese community could not be appeased by mere explanations and assertions made by the PAS leadership and Perikatan Nasional (PN),” he asserted.
According to Dr Sheikh Ibrahim, who joined Amanah in 2019, the party leadership’s claims were made solely to attract Chinese voters during the election.
“They (the Chinese community) don’t feel that way, they will feel that they are second class in this country,” he added.
Meanwhile, Dr Sheikh Ibrahim described the PH candidate for Simpang Jeram state seat, Nazri Abdul Rahman, as a committed individual who helps people regardless of their political beliefs by proving his worth when he served as an engineer at the Muar Municipal Council.
“Nazri helped me resolve residents’ problems even though they were not from the government party,” Dr Sheikh Ibrahim was reported as saying by Bernama yesterday (Sept 6).
“I’ve known him since 1999 and he is very professional at his tasks and has never picked or chosen when helping any elected representative.
“When I lodged complaints about development issues for people here, he was understanding and helpful, so my work as an assemblyperson then was very simple and hassle-free.
“He is not biased and doesn’t choose according to parties.”
Dr. Sheikh Ibrahim went on to point out that Nazri sincerely wanted to help residents in the constituency, particularly in reducing flash floods, going so far as to get his doctorate in flood issues even though he was already in his 60s.
“He did his doctorate not for a better job opportunity but because he wanted to learn more about flood issues, so we can see his commitment.
“To me, he’s a great man, better than I was, if he becomes a YB (Yang Berhormat),” he added.
The Simpang Jeram state by-election will be a three-cornered fight between Nazri, PAS central committee member Dr Mohd Mazri Yahya of PN, and independent candidate S. Jeganathan with polling day set for this Saturday (Sept 9).
The state by-election was called after Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub, who was the incumbent for the seat, died on July 23 due to a brain haemorrhage. He was 61. – Sept 7, 2023
Main pic credit: NST
