Pakatan expects a lower voter turnout in Sg Kandis

SHAH ALAM: Pakatan Harapan anticipates a lower voter turnout for the Sungai Kandis state by-election, says PKR candidate Mohd Zawawi Ahmad Mughni.

“This is because the voters had just gone to the polls. Some are working outside the constituency and some face the problem of transportation cost, which is outside our control,” said Mohd Zawawi, who represents Pakatan Harapan.

Based on feedback, he said Pakatan Harapan would retain the seat, but with a majority that is lower than the 12,480 votes it secured in the general election in May.

He also dismissed talk that PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim would be there on the last lap of the campaign to counter PAS’ support for Barisan Nasional.

Anwar’s programme had been drawn up much earlier, Mohd Zawai added.

“In fact, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is recuperating from surgery in Turkey and is scheduled to return,” he said at a press conference that was also attended by former Kota Anggerik state assemblyman Yaakob Sapari.

Anwar is scheduled to help in the PKR campaign beginning Wednesday and is also expected to attend the grand finale on the final night of the campaign on Friday, along with Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and other Pakatan Harapan leaders.

Asked whether the Malay voters could accept DAP, he said the Malays of late had become more open to the party.

“It’s just Umno which is spreading propaganda about DAP, labelling the party as racist, anti-Malay and so on,” he said.

Mohd Zawawi is challenged by Datuk Lokman Noor Adam of Barisan Nasional and independent candidate K. Murthy.

PAS has stayed out of the by-election to avoid a three-cornered contest that could split the votes, indicating it was supportive of Barisan.

In fact, PAS is also expected to stay out of Balakong by-election which will be held on Sept 8.

“PAS members will vote for me despite the directive from their party leadership to vote for the opposition party.

“We are targeting 50% or at least 3,000 voters who supported PAS in GE14, to vote for PKR this time around,” said Mohd Zawawi.

“In my meetings with them (PAS voters), they did not even raise matters linked to national issues.”

The Sungai Kandis by-election is being held following the death from cancer of the assemblyman, Mat Shuhaimi Shafiei of PKR, on July 2.

Separately, the Election Commission (EC) advised Sungai Kandis voters to find out about their polling stations well before polling on Saturday.

EC deputy chairman Tan Sri Othman Mahmood said this would enable them to plan their journey to the stations and avoid congestion at the verification booths.

He also said that the EC urged all the voters to come out and exercise their right on Saturday to elect their representative. — Bernama

We are targeting 50% or at least 3,000 voters who supported PAS in GE14, to vote for PKR this time around. Mohd Zawawi Ahmad Mughni