KLUANG — There are voters in Mahkota, Johor, who are still unaware of the state seat’s by-election on September 28, Kluang MP Wong Shu Qi said.
The Pakatan Harapan (PH) lawmaker, said the coalition is actively promoting voter awareness by helping residents check their polling stations, besides publicising the by-election.
Mahkota is one of two state seats under Wong’s constituency and she is PH Kluang coordinator for the polls.
Wong, however, said the number of those unaware a by-election is taking place, is “small”.
She told Bernama that PH was aiming for voter turnout above 60% or 70%, but admitted it would be hard.
“This is a by-election and it is very difficult to get 70%,” she told the national news agency when met at a Lantern Festival at Che Luan Khor Kluang Moral Uplifting Association here, yesterday.
The unity government’s candidate in the by-election is Syed Hussien Syed Abdullah, 40, from PH’s ally, Barisan Nasional.
Syed Hussien is Kluang Umno Youth chief, who was present with Wong at the lantern festival event last night.
Asked about non-Malay voters’ acceptance of Syed Hussien, Wong said it was good.
“(Although) the feedback is good, but we still need to ensure the turnout is also good,” she added.
The Mahkota state by-election will be a straight fight between Syed Hussien and Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidate Mohamad Haizan Jaafar, 61, who is an ex-Johor football player.
The by-election is being held as DAP and Umno appeared to get into a spat over a statement on proposed mandatory halal certification by DAP vice-chairperson Teresa Kok.
Kok, who is Seputeh MP, had expressed concerns the proposal would be an added financial burden on smaller businesses, including small Malay entrepreneurs. Police reports have been lodged against her for raising a 3R (royalty, race, religion) issue and she is being investigated.
Some of the harshest criticism and name-calling of Kok came from Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh.
However, various BN and DAP leaders have promised the issue would not affect the work and relations of their joint by-election machinery campaigning for Syed Hussien to win the Mahkota seat.
The by-election is being held following the death of incumbent Datuk Sharifah Azizah Syed Zain, 63, on August 2. — September 17, 2024