Hisham: BN still strong in Johor
> ‘Muhyiddin will not be able to shake BN’s bastion’
BUKIT BERUNTUNG: The strength of Barisan Nasional (BN) in Johor remains firm despite former Umno deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s quest to break its bastion in the state, said Umno vicepresident Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.
History, he said showed that the bigger picture is that the party is more important than individuals.
“Even Umno’s founder (Datuk Sir Onn Jaafar) was put aside when the people saw the bigger picture.
“That’s what happened to Tun Musa Hitam. (It was also) the case with Tun Dr Ismail when he was not in the same line-up with (first Prime Minister) Tunku Abdul Rahman,” he told reporters after opening the “Jalinan Kasih” programme with Hulu Selangor constituents at the Teratai Apartments yesterday.
Also present were BN’s Hulu Selangor parliamentary candidate Datuk P. Kamalanathan, Selangor BN deputy chairman and Batang Kali state seat candidate Datuk Mat Nadzari Ahmad Dahlan, Hulu Bernam candidate Datuk Rosni Sohar and Kuala Kubu Baru candidate Datuk Wong Koon Mun.
Denying that Johor will fall to the Opposition due to Muhyiddin’s renewed involvement in the state, the Sembrong parliamentary candidate remains confident that BN will retain its power come polling day.
“If we are worried about Johor, I don’t think I will be in Hulu Selangor today (yesterday).
“If we are worried about Johor, I don’t think I would be at Bandar Tun Razak and Setiawangsa yesterday morning.
“I was in Muar three days ago. In fact I was in Pagoh three days ago. What is so special about Muhyiddin?
“God willing we will retain Johor,” he said. KUALA LUMPUR: Pakatan Harapan’s Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad rubbished allegations by caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who said that the Opposition is planning to admit Mahathir to hospital a day before the election as a ploy to gain sympathy votes.
Mahathir who was addressing a 2,000 strong crowd at a rally at Desa Pandan in the Titiwangsa constituency yesterday said that he does not need the so-called “sympathy votes” to win.
“Pity for me? I don’t need to enter the hospital to get support of the people. The support I have been receiving throughout the campaign is more than enough,” he said to loud cheers at the rally.
He also alleged that he has been the victim of intimidation by Customs and the Immigration departments.
“I came back on a flight from Kuala Terengganu today and I was met by Customs and immigration officers who checked my bags.”
“I think they were hoping to find money, but all they found was ‘keropok lekor’ which I had brought back from Kuala Terengganu,” he said taking a jibe at the officers.
Mahathir was speaking at the rally in pouring rain. He was joined by Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.