KUALA LUMPUR – Perikatan Nasional (PN) should stop playing up cheap rhetoric and using fear-mongering tactics on Malays, which were seen during Kuala Kubu Baharu (KKB) by-election campaigns, says Umno Veteran Club secretary Datuk Mustapha Yaakub.
In a statement today, Mustapha urged coalition leaders to cease exploiting Malays and Islam sentiments in future election campaigns.
“Enough is enough with the division among Malays today, caused by the actions of their leaders in PN.
“Repent. It’s time to reflect.
“Merely performing umrah every year during Ramadan holds no meaning if one’s behaviour mirrors that of Abu Lahab.”
“There is no point in preaching about the religion every Friday if they act like Abdullah Bin Ubai,” he said.
Abu Lahab and Abdullah bin Ubai are two condemned figures in Islam.
He said it was expected from the start that Pakatan Harapan (PH) would win the KKB state assembly seat.
With PH’s victory in KKB, he said that it proves that voters continue to choose PH despite the claims and accusations hurled by opposition leaders and former Umno figures like Tan Sri Annuar Musa and Tan Sri Noh Omar, who attempted to peddle “rotten fish” in their campaigns.
“It is interesting that Umno’s ‘old horses’ or old guards’ poisonous claims have helped the PH candidate win this by-election.
“KKB by-election results clearly prove that locals in particular and Selangor people in general reject politics filled with slander and hatred, as displayed by the opposition.
“The people have chosen the ‘loving and civilised’ way of politics brought by Umno,” he added.
Mustapha also said that the voters are tired of the lies, deception, and hypocrisy played by the opposition leaders. This is especially true with PAS, who played up issues relating to Islam, and Bersatu, who exploited Malay sentiments in efforts to gain the people’s support.
Yesterday, PH defended the KKB seat through victory in the by-election with a majority of 3,869 votes after their candidate Pang Sock Tao obtained 14,000 votes.
Pang is also the former press secretary to the housing and local government minister.
She defeated PN’s candidate Khairul Azhari Saut, who won 10,131 votes – followed by independent candidate Nyau Ke Xin (188) and Parti Rakyat Malaysia candidate Hafizah Zainuddin (152).
The KKB by-election was held following the death of its incumbent Lee Kee Hiong due to cancer on March 21. – May 12, 2024