KELANTAN Wanita Amanah chief Dr Hafidzah Mustaqim has advised voters in Pulai and Simpang Jeram to reject parties harping on royalty, religion and race (3R) issues in their campaigns.

Hafidzah, who is Kota Lama assemblyman, urged voters to abandon politicians who indulge in name-calling.

The Kelantan Pakatan Harapan (PH) deputy women’s head said Perikatan Nasional (PN) opened its campaign in Simpang Jeram by filling its public speeches with uncouth language and giving unsavoury labels to certain people.

“We can fight this with Malaysia Madani, but this concept has yet to be fully disseminated. Based on my experience in Kelantan, we are not fighting manifestos; we are fighting against the use of sentiments touching on 3R,” she told Bernama after accompanying PH’s Simpang Jeram candidate Nazri Abdul Rahman to the nomination centre yesterday.

Hafidzah beat all odds by snatching Kota Lama from PAS in the August 12 state elections, making her one of only two opposition assemblymen in the 45-seat Kelantan assembly.

After the state polls, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said it would take time for the people to fully appreciate the unity government’s Madani policy.

Hafidzah said people should place their trust in the unity government as it has proven itself by attracting big investors into the country, easing inflation, and launching Payung Rahmah.

The Pulai parliamentary by-election sees PH’s Suhaizan Kaiat taking on PN’s Zulkifli Jaafar and Independent candidate Samsudin Mohamad Fauzi, while the Simpang Jeram by-election involves Nazri, PN’s Dr Mohd Mazri Yahya and Independent candidate S. Jeganathan.

The two by-elections were triggered by the death of Amanah’s Salahuddin Ayub on July 23.

Early voting is on September 5, while polling day is September 9. – Bernama, August 27, 2023.