MUAR – A victory for Pakatan Harapan-Barisan Nasional in the Pulai and Simpang Jeram by-elections is a must to stop PAS from gaining a foothold in Johor, which is seen as a “fixed deposit” for the government.
BN chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said this will help to ensure the welfare of various races in the state continues to be protected, reported Bernama.
He added that a win for PH-BN Simpang Jeram candidate Nazri Abdul Rahman of Amanah is necessary to stop PAS from establishing a foothold in the BN-led state.
“We do not want PAS to make Simpang Jeram its second seat after Maharani.
“Only the people of Bakri and Simpang Jeram can deny PAS. This is because PAS is full of tricks… we must fight back,” he said at a meeting with BN’s election machinery in Simpang Jeram today.
Also present were Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, Johor Umno chief Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin and Nazri.
Meanwhile, Zahid called on Nazri, who is a former Muar Municipal Council engineer, to act as a flood expert to stem the PAS wave.
“This is because as a flood expert, he must repel the flood and instead inundate the Johor state as the strongest unity state in the country,” said the Umno president.
In the last Johor state election, BN won control of the state with a simple majority of 40 seats while Perikan Nasional had three seats and PH had 10 seats.
Zahid also recalled the bitter memory of Umno when it partnered PAS in Muafakat Nasional and that PAS was always backstabbing its friends.
“When we were in the opposition, we tried to show the unity of Muslims with Muafakat Nasional but we learned our lesson.”
Simpang Jeram and Pulai seats fell vacant following the death of incumbent, Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub on July 23.
The nomination process today saw a three-cornered fight for both seats between PH, PN, and independent candidates. – August 26, 2023