‘I’m not stopping people from voting’
JOHOR BARU: Deputy Home Minister Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed denied that he prevented Malaysians in Singapore returning to vote in the 14th General Election (GE14).
The two-term Pulai member of parliament said he voiced out to ensure the people were not duped by opposition tricks in garnering votes for their candidates, especially “nomad” candidates.
“Who prevented Malaysians (working in Singapore) from voting? I did not stop (them).
“I only said this was an opposition trick, who could not depend on local voters to enable their ‘nomad’ candidates to win the polls,” he said.
Nur Jazlan, who said this at a walkabout here yesterday, was commenting on Johor DAP assistant publicity secretary Sheik Omar Ali’s remarks in a portal, where he was alleged to have derailed the campaign for voters to return to vote.
“Voting should be for the local people to determine their elected representatives, but at the same time, I do not want the voting process to be tarnished by the opposition.
“They feel that they have a better opportunity in certain areas and encourage outside voters to vote for their candidates.
“In the end, when they are elected, they would not be an ineffective wakil rakyat in the area,” he said.
Citing an example of his opponent in the polls, he said the opposition pact had placed PAN vice-president Salahuddin Ayub to contest the Pulai parliamentary seat and the Simpang Jeram state seat in Muar, constituencies separated by a vast distance.
“Salahuddin chose to contest the Pulai parliamentary seat and the Muar state seat. It shows he is not serious.
“He offers himself not to serve the people. He is only contesting to obtain a seat, so that he can be a menteri besar candidate. That is, if he and his party can win.”