Johor by-elections litmus test for unity pact's acceptance by non-Malay voters, says Nur Jazlan
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 23 — Johor Umno’s Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed reportedly said the Pulai parliamentary and the Simpang Jeram state by-elections would be a test for the alliance between Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN).
Utusan Malaysia reported the Umno Supreme Council member saying that the elections would show whether the federal ruling coalition is accepted by the non-Malay voters.
“Whether they will provide support or not will be proven this September 9. It is important to assess whether this coalition is acceptable to non-Malay grassroots,” he was quoted as saying by the Malay daily newspaper.
He also admitted that he was not aggrieved by the decision to let a PH candidate contest, although he was the BN candidate for the federal seat in the five previous general elections.
“I don’t feel anything. I am content to compete and be a representative of the people. This time we will help win the government candidate.
“We will help in the spirit of the unity government. If viewed on paper, the Amanah candidate, Suhaizan Kaiat will win the election if the voters come out to fulfil their responsibilities,” he said.
Last week, Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) named former Johor Speaker Suhaizan Kaiat as the PH candidate for the Pulai parliamentary by-election, finally confirming weeks of speculation.
Amanah president Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu also named civil engineer and Bakri Amanah division deputy chief Nazri Abdul Rahman as PH’s candidate for the Simpang Jeram state seat by-election.
According to the Department of Statistics, the Pulai seat is made up of 47.3 per cent Bumiputera residents, followed by 40.7 per cent ethnic Chinese and 11.5 per cent ethnic Indians.
Meanwhile, Simpang Jeram is 52.3 per cent Bumiputera, 45.4 per cent ethnic Chinese and just 2 per cent ethnic Indians.
The Election Commission has set nomination day for the Pulai parliamentary seat and the Simpang Jeram state seat by-elections on August 26.
Early voting will be on September 5 and polling day on September 9.
