THE Semenyih by-election will see Pakatan Harapan tackling the issue of Malay-Islam sentiments, which the opposition has been playing against the government.

Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin said his party will provide a thorough explanation on that matter, among others, to the public during the campaigning period.

“(The campaign) is for us to explain a few matters that have surfaced previously; issues twisted by the opposition, such as accusations that PH does not fight for Malay rights and belittles Islam.

“It’s a false allegation. We will explain this matter thoroughly, including issues faced by Barisan Nasional and the faults in the previous government,” he told a press conference in Semenyih today.

Muhyiddin said other matters that will be explained to the public include relations between the parties in PH.

He said the opposition had made it seem as if DAP is unsupportive of the other parties’ efforts in the coalition, adding that the allegation was intended to make the public angry at the government.

He said the government will explain what it has done to tackle the issue of cost of living.

Local issues to be addressed include floods and health facilities in Semenyih.

“The clinics and government hospitals are too packed. I will bring the matter to the attention of the ministers,” he said.

Muhyiddin said the people should not take the by-election lightly as they do not know if PAS and Umno may cooperate.

“Our machinery must unite and move as a team because it will not be a simple by-election. It is a big task, an uphill battle.

“I have been involved in a lot of elections and there was never one that I took lightly,” he said, adding that the cooperation between the two parties may have worked in Cameron Highlands, but the situation in Semenyih is different.

The polls were called following the death of assemblyman Bakhtiar Mohd Nor, 57, of a heart attack on January 11.

In GE14, Bakhtiar got 23,428 votes, beating Barisan Nasional’s Johan Abd Aziz, Mad Shahmidur Mat Kosim (PAS), and S. Arutchelvan (Parti Sosialis Malaysia) with a 8,964-vote majority.

Nomination for the by-election will be held on February 16, and polling on March 2. Early voting is scheduled for February 26. – February 9, 2019.