‘DAP USING DR M TO SPLIT MALAY VOTES’
It hopes to weaken dominant parties in Sabah, Sarawak, says Umno information chief
DAP has turned Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad into a “tool” to split Malay votes in the peninsula and to weaken dominant parties in Sabah and Sarawak in its plan to win the 14th General Election (GE14).
Umno information chief Tan Sri Annuar Musa said DAP, through opposition pact Pakatan Harapan, was employing such a strategy to form the Federal Government by wresting 50 seats in Sabah and Sarawak.
“Such is the strategy laid out by DAP to split Malay votes in the peninsula and weaken dominant parties in Sabah and Sarawak.
“It is being done in order for DAP to hold the reins of the government (should the opposition win GE14), although it will not be the one ruling as the administration’s lead.”
Speaking during an interview in Bicara BH titled “PRU14 — Antara Mimpi & Realiti” yesterday, Annuar said DAP should realise that the approach would not be easily accepted, especially by the Malays and Bumiputera community in Sabah and Sarawak.
“I would like to stress here that DAP should stop fantasising that the Malays will be receptive to such tactics.
“If they think it can be done in Sabah and Sarawak, they are wrong.
“What DAP is now doing will only lead the Bumiputera voters in Sabah and Sarawak to be more united against the party.
“The same goes for the Malays and Muslims in the peninsula.”
On a related note, Annuar said Umno was confident that BN would remain as the party of choice for youths who currently formed 52 per cent of voters.
Although the youths were critical of the government and appeared to be anti-establishment, Annuar said they remained firm in their demand for peace and a stable government.
“The youths have always been with the government (BN), but we did not realise that.
“Of course, there will be one or two who will make noise and seem to be prominent in the opposition.
“But just as the saying goes ‘hanya jauhari yang mengenal manikam’ (it takes an expert to see the truth).”
Annuar said the youths were generally a responsible and educated generation.
“They know which (party) is better than the other. I believe that they will pick the right government, and not the one led by DAP. They will not vote for a government which only knows how to speak honeyed words, but cannot deliver stability (as a government).
Annuar said BN need not be in a hurry to hold an election soon, despite the disarray within the opposition.
He said the government should focus on addressing people issues to the best of its ability.
“We do not need to worry about (the challenges) posed by (the opposition’s) ‘marriage of convenience’.
“They only exist due to a common enemy, and will not be able to offer the best alternative (in leadership) to the people.
“They will keep fighting among themselves and it will get worse.
“Even if we hold the election at a later date, the opposition will not be able to resolve their problems.”
Annuar said the election should only be called when BN was confident that it would win more seats.
“The prime minister is neither panicking, hiding his hands, nor taking advantage of the messy situation the opposition is in, in order for him to decide on the election date.
“He has gone through seven or eight elections under various prime ministers. Now, he is working to create a balance between meeting the people’s interests and (their aspirations for) the election.”