MALAYSIANS must come out in full force and vote if they want to get rid of kleptocrats for good, Amanah communications director Khalid Samad said.

“If we want change, we have to work for it. If not, the situation will be the same (with the previous government). We need to choose the right government.

“The fate of the country lies with the people, if not the country will be run by kleptocrats and thieves. We have to stop them,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Khalid, who will be contesting the Titiwangsa parliamentary seat, said it was crucial that they stop the kleptocrats from coming back to govern.

“We will have to pull in the voters. We have to do our best to get the votes and we are ready to fight.

“The issue here is not whether we are ready. The general election is already here,” he said, referring to the dissolution of parliament on October 10 and the subsequent polls announcement.

Khalid noted the current poor weather conditions, and how they had not expected Barisan Nasional (BN) to call for a general election so soon.

“We know he (caretaker prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob) was pressured. We know Zahid (BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi) is in the driving seat.

“We are ready and will do our best to get the mandate.”

As for voters not coming out during the monsoon season, Khalid reiterated that BN had set the dates for the general election.

“This is so people won’t come out to vote if there are floods. This is their intention. They want to prevent 80% voter turnout.

“The people need to choose the government that they want. If we win, we will serve the people for the next five years and clean up the administration.

“We were given the mandate in 2018 but we couldn’t fulfil what we wanted to achieve. So, this time we want to complete what we started (to have a clean government).”

He said the reason why the three state assemblies under Pakatan Harapan – Selangor, Negri Sembilan and Penang – were not dissolved was in case the people needed assistance during the monsoon season.

This, he said, is so that the states have the manpower and facilities to assist the people if floods happen.

Malaysia will vote on November 19. Early voting is on November 15. Nomination day is on November 5. – October 28, 2022.