Barisan Nasional is implementing proactive measures to ensure that its supporters vote for the Pakatan Harapan candidates in the upcoming by-elections in Johor on September 9, according to Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, the Barisan chairman.
These measures include explaining to Umno members the importance of supporting Pakatan based on the BN-PH collaboration and teaching older members how to choose candidates using the Pakatan symbol. The explanation sessions began on the eve of nominations, and follow-up actions will be taken by Johor Umno chief Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin and Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi to ensure that members are properly informed.
“I am confident that the divisional leadership throughout Johor will provide assistance in clarifying this matter (the need to vote for Pakatan). Voters should not be confused, and the Johor Mentri Besar has stated that practice sessions have been conducted to teach staunch Barisan voters to choose Pakatan,” Ahmad Zahid said during a press conference after launching the Risda palm oil mill biogas project at the Ulu Keratong biogas plant on August 27.
Ahmad Zahid was responding to a question about the steps Barisan was taking to ensure that its supporters, especially senior citizens, would know to vote for Pakatan and would not be confused by the lack of the scale symbol on the ballot papers. The Pulai parliamentary and Simpang Jeram state by-elections were triggered by the death of Amanah deputy president Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub on July 23.
Pakatan has nominated Suhaizan Kaiat in Pulai and Nazri Abdul Rahman in Simpang Jeram. They will be competing in three-cornered fights against Perikatan Nasional and independent candidates.
Ahmad Zahid also mentioned that Barisan is intensifying its use of social media in the election campaign. This decision comes after the 15th general election last year and the recent six state elections revealed that they were falling behind in this field of psychological warfare. He believes that campaigning through social media has proven to be effective in capturing the hearts and minds of voters in recent times.
When asked about the potential of 3R (race, religion, and royalty) issues being exploited in the by-elections, Ahmad Zahid expressed optimism that Johor voters would not be swayed by such tactics. He stated, “Johor people are different, and I see that they actually reject ‘narrow’ issues raised in the six state elections,” referring to the attacks centered around sensitive topics.
This article was originally published on Bernama.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
