Pakatan will not play PAS-Umno race game in Rantau, says Anwar

Chan Kok Leong Chan Kok Leong Updated 7 years ago · Published on 11 Mar 2019 6:34PM · 4 Comments

PKR president Anwar Ibrahim says the Pakatan Harapan campaign in Rantau will talk about justice, not race. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Kamal Ariffin, March 11, 2019.

PAKATAN Harapan will not give in to the temptation to field a Malay candidate in Rantau, said PKR president Anwar Ibrahim.

He said the ruling coalition will not be railroaded into playing the race card by the threat of the PAS-Umno tie-up.
 
“It’s important to remain consistent as a party that represents all (races), which is to protect the poor and the marginalised, where the majority are also the Malays,” Anwar said, after announcing Dr S. Streram as the PKR candidate for the Rantau by-election today.

“Instead of resorting to race, we want to talk about justice. The race card is only used by opportunists and those who have lost as a last resort,” said Anwar.

Anwar was talking about the pressure to field a Malay candidate in the Rantau by-election against Umno acting president Mohamad Hasan, who is expected to be fielded for Barisan Nasional.

The voters in Rantau are 53% Malay, 27% Indian and 19% Chinese.

He said the by-election is a chance for PH to highlight the real poverty that exists in the area despite it being the former menteri besar’s seat.

Mohamad was formerly the Negri Sembilan MB and is the Rantau assemblyman of three terms.

“There is real poverty among Malays, Indians and some Chinese in Rantau. And it is more important for us to present our case to Malaysians then allow our struggle be derailed or hijacked by racists,” said Anwar.

He said that Pakatan is expecting a tough fight in Rantau as it is an Umno seat and the candidate is the acting Umno president.

“We know that the race card will be played against our candidate. But we will mobilise our machinery from Sabah and Sarawak to help him in Rantau,” said Anwar.

Mohamad won uncontested in Rantau during the last elections after Dr Streram was prevented by the returning officer from filing his nomination form.

Following Dr Streram’s petition, the Election Court decided to call for a by-election.

Nomination is set for March 30 while polling is on April 13.

In GE13, Mohamad won the Rantau seat by 4,613 votes, defeating PKR’s Aisah Lamsah. – March 11, 2019. 

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Comments

  • What a loads of bull. PH do not play race game does not mean that you should be giving free hand to UmnoPAS to play such game. Who is the Government ??? For heaven sake get out of the traditional hypocritic characteristics. Is PH incompetent and ineffective in living up to the challenges thrown by UmnoPAS in their insidious game of racial stirring. Do not pretend to come clean and behaving goody goody when PH members are not saintly either. Sickening and pathetic with such pedestrian thoughts and a low tier leve of farce .

    Posted 7 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

  • well done. glad to have you back...dont play into their hands. no racial politics. same time focus on economic and all poor Malaysians.

    Posted 7 years ago by . . · Reply

  • Good move, for the sake of all Malaysians!

    Posted 7 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • PH won't play the race game as they have their very own game to play which is called who is going to be the chief in one and the half year time.

    Posted 7 years ago by Teruna Kelana · Reply