IT is safer not to speak than risk falling into Pakatan Harapan’s “trap”, said Barisan Nasional’s Ramli Mohd Nor today, explaining why he hardly addressed reporters during the Cameron Highlands by-election campaign.

“It’s not that I don’t like the media. What did I use to work as before? I gave reports to the media, didn’t I? I’m used to you all, but I do not want to fall into their (PH’s) trap.

“The more you talk, the more crap comes out,” he said outside the SK Mensun polling centre.

Ramli, despite being the BN candidate, barely made the headlines during the two-week polls campaign.

Instead, other leaders from the opposition coalition, including former prime minister Najib Razak, were the ones being vocal as they stumped for the seat’s first Orang Asli candidate.

Journalists had found it difficult to get full interviews out of Ramli, a retired high-ranking police officer. His minders from the BN camp would step in whenever he was asked a question, preventing him from replying on his own, or providing answers on his behalf.

This morning, Ramli was asked about allegations that PH campaign workers yesterday distributed gift hampers to Orang Asli in Kg Terisu.

A photo purportedly showing them doing this was posted on the Instagram account of Umno Youth chief Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki.

Ramli only said it is “easy to pass comments”.

“I know I talk less, and you all don’t like it. But there’s a saying – the more you speak, the more things you stir up.”

His main rival in the by-election is PH’s M. Manogaran. Two independents are also contesting, namely farmer Wong Seng Yee and former lecturer Sallehudin Ab Talib. – January 26, 2019.