GTA targets Malay-centric seats in Penang, tries for Bagan too
GEORGE TOWN, Nov 3 — Gerakan Tanah Air (GTA) will be contesting in constituencies that consist of predominantly Malays and Muslims in Penang this general election (GE15), said Penang GTA chairman Muhammad Farouk Abdullah.
He said they chose to contest in Balik Pulau, Kepala Batas, Tasek Gelugor, and Permatang Pauh because their candidates are Muslims and Malays.
“We are contesting in Malay and Muslim areas with one exception, Bagan,” he said.
He said they have a young candidate to try for Bagan, a DAP stronghold held by incumbent MP Lim Guan Eng.
Mohammed Hafiz Mohamed Abu Bakar from Parti Perikatan India Muslim Nasional (Iman) is picked to contest in Bagan.
“I was born in Bagan, grew up in Bagan, studied in Bagan and I have a business there now,” Hafiz said.
He said people in Bagan know him since he grew up there.
Muhammad Farouk said Hafiz is also multilingual as he could speak Chinese, Tamil, Malay and English.
“All GTA candidates will be contesting under the Pejuang logo since GTA is yet to be approved,” he said.
He said they consider Barisan Nasional their main political opponent in the four Malay-centric seats.
He stressed that they chose the constituencies that are predominantly Malay not because they are racists.
“We chose these seats because our candidates are Malays and Muslims with clean records and are good at heart,” he said.
He said they chose candidates who will appeal to the constituents.
Fazli Mohammad from Pejuang will be contesting in Balik Pulau, Hamidi Abu Hassan from Berjasa in Kepala Batas, Mohd Nasir Othman from Putra in Permatang Pauh and Dr Abdul Halim Sher Jung from Gagasan Bangsa in Tasek Gelugor.
