PERAK Menteri Besar Ahmad Faizal Azumu must explain his negative remarks about DAP while campaigning for Pakatan Harapan in the Tanjung Piai by-election, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said today.

The Bersatu leader’s remarks, in which he said he was alone “fighting a desperate battle against the DAP group” is difficult to accept because it is untrue, Lim was quoted saying by various media in Penang.

“What appears to be said is difficult to accept as it is untrue and unfounded. Such a baseless statement would really shake PH.

“He should make an effort to clarify what he really meant,” Lim was quoted saying at an event in Teluk Pahang today.

Lim, who is also Finance Minister, said he found it difficult to accept Faizal’s remarks as he considered the Perak MB a friend.

“Whenever I meet him, he has been open to me and never complained of such things. What happened is out of the ordinary.

“Now, he has to redeem himself to recover the spirit of solidarity in PH.”

He added that PH leaders should not issue statements that created false impressions about the government coalition.

Faizal’s remarks were captured in a video clip that was shared widely on social media, in which Tanjung Piai candidate Karmaine Sardini was present.

Faizal appeared to be responding to a man who was speaking to both of them about his disappointment with PH.

The Perak MB said: “In Perak, I am fighting a desperate battle alone against ‘puak-puak’ (factions) DAP.

“I want to defend the land of the Malays and our religion. I am doing this slowly.”

He also said that he “had Umno blood” and did not mind “helping his people”.

Faizal, who was previously with Umno before joining Bersatu and winning the Chenderiang seat in Perak in the general elections last year, is the only Bersatu elected rep in the state government.

Other Perak PH leaders have slammed Faizal, such as state DAP secretary Wong Kah Woh and state PKR chief Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak.

Faizal’s party boss, Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin said Faizal’s remarks were not likely to hurt PH’s campaign in Tanjung Piai, but will ask the Perak MB for an explanation, nevertheless. – November 9, 2019.