UNLESS Malaysians prefer to have the opposition Perikatan Nasional (PN) expand its influence in the country, they should turn up in droves to vote in the upcoming six state elections.
Such is the call by retired DAP supremo Tan Sri Lim Kit Siang who stressed on the need for the electorate to ensure a high voter turnout and not splitting their votes given the intensity of the contest between the Pakatan Harapan-/Barisan Nasional (PH-BN) alliance and the PN coalition of PAS and Bersatu.
This is despite the fact that outcome of the state polls will not directly impact the Federal government.
The state elections solely determine the composition of the state governments, not the Federal one. Consequently, the Federal government can only be changed through a general election or a successful vote of no confidence in the Dewan Rakyat.
“Every vote that is not cast or split will benefit the PN coalition as it will disadvantage the PH-BN coalition and place the PN coalition in a better position to win not only a constituency but a state government,” the veteran lawmaker told a PH-BN ceramah n support for Sungai Pelek candidate Lwi Kian Keong yesterday (Aug 7) morning.
“A person who does not vote or who split the vote on Aug 12 may not want PN to form the state government in any state, but this is the result they might get.”
More crucially, the 82-year-old who retired from active politics in March 2022 said a big turnout is imperative particularly in ensuring that “PN of PAS and Bersatu does not form the state government of Selangor, Penang and Negri Sembilan by default”.
“I have devoted my life to my political beliefs for 58 years – to see a just, democratic, progressive and prosperous Malaysia which is one of the top countries in the world,” noted Kit Siang.
“I admire the MUDA and independent candidates for standing in the six state polls on Aug 12 but in the larger national interests, they should be helping the PH-BN coalition and not help PN to form the six state governments on Aug 12.”
The country’s longest serving Opposition leader of 29 years over three separate occasions has earlier described himself as “currently campaigning for the six state polls (in Selangor, Negri Sembilan and Penang) and am as busy as any candidate”.
“This my second trip to Sungai Pelek because Sungai Pelek is a black area. PN believes they can win Sungai Pelek and even win the Selangor state government on Aug 12,” shared Kit Siang.
“I do not want PN to win the Selangor state government and I do not want PN to win Sungai Pelek. I want Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari to continue as Selangor Menteri Besar for the next five years to develop Selangor.”
For the uninitiated, Sungai Pelek is deemed as a DAP stronghold currently held by controversial former state EXCO Ronnie Liew who won the state seat in 2018 (one term) but not defending the seat after having left the party after 40 years in recent times.
PH-BN candidate Lwi will be engaged in a three-corner fight with Bersatu Sepang division head Datuk Suhaimi Mohd Ghazali and independent R. Nageswaran in the Aug 12 Selangor state poll. – Aug 7, 2023
