LEAFLETS urging Tanjung Piai voters to pick a Muslim candidate in the Saturday by-election have been distributed at a ceramah to be attended by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad tonight.

The leaflets, carrying the words “vote wisely”, “who is the BN candidate?” and “Vote Muslim First” were distributed at the main PH ceramah in Kukup Laut.

The leaflets also carried a halal logo with the slogan “Buy Muslims Products”. 

Six candidates are vying for the seat, but the real contest is expected to be between PH’s Muslim candidate Karmaine Sardini, Barisan Nasional’s Chinese contender Wee Jeck Seng.

This appearance of the leaflets comes as Dr Mahathir wrote an open letter to Tanjung Piai voters urging them to reject racial politics.

Bersatu Youth chief Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman sought to distance the ruling coalition from the message in the leaflets,  saying the distribution of the materials could be to discredit PH.

The youth and sports minister told a media chat group that he had checked with the organisers of the PH ceramah and was told no one was aware of the leaflets. 

“We suspect it’s a sabotage. Our stance is, vote for the candidate who brings development for Tanjung Piai and for who fought against corruption.

“Race and religion should not matter,” he said. 

The mega ceramah tonight will see Dr Mahathir, who is also Bersatu chairman, making his first appearance to campaign for PH.

Also present are Amanah chairman Mohamad Sabu, PKR secretary-general Saifudin Nasution and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, who are all in Dr Mahathir’s cabinet.

Apart from Karmaine and Wee, the other candidates are Gerakan’s Wendy Subramaniam, Berjasa’s Badhrulhisham Abdul Aziz and independents Ang Chuan Lock and Faridah Aryani Abdul Ghaffar. – November 13, 2019.