PERIKATAN Nasional (PN) will not be implementing repressive laws that will infringe the rights of non-Muslims if the coalition wins Selangor after the August 12 polls, its Subang Jaya candidate Gana Pragasam Sebastian said. 

Referring to the ban of all gaming shops (lottery) and curb on sale of alcohol in Kedah, the actor-comedian turned politician said PN will not resort to making drastic decisions in Selangor should they win.

“Selangor is an economic powerhouse and if PN touches sensitive issues like what they did in Kedah, then the economy will be impacted.

“PN will not simply implement any rule here like what was done in Kedah,” Gana told The Malaysian Insight.  

Gana, a first time election candidate, will be contesting against Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) incumbent Michelle Ng Mei Sze from DAP and Muda’s Zayd Shaukat. 

Gana said that PN is not a racist coalition as alleged by many, adding that such a mindset has to change. 

“There are 56 seats in Selangor and not all Malays are contesting. There are also Chinese and Indians contesting under the PN banner. There are six Indian PN candidates in Selangor. 

“Hence, if we win (Subang and Selangor), before there is any implementation of any policies, the matter will be discussed with all the assemblymen,” the 55-year-old said. 

Gana, who is Selangor Bersekutu (Bersatu’s non-bumiputra wing) vice-president and Sungai Buloh Bersekutu chief, urged voters to give a chance to the non-Muslims in PN to be their voice. 

“Everybody is saying PN is a racist coalition, that it will close down certain businesses like pubs, 4D shops and so on, but before saying all that, give us a chance to prove what we can do.

“Before we can do anything, people are already judging and giving such comments.

“I see that some are using this (threat against non-Muslims) as a tool for their election campaign.

“Give us the mandate and if after five years we fail to deliver, then they can say what they want,” the father of four said. 

Plans for Subang Jaya

Gana, a civil engineer by profession, is a prominent name in the entertainment industry, as he has acted in several local Tamil films in the comedy genre. 

Fond of his constituency, Gana said solving traffic issues will be one of his main aims. 

“There is a need to improve the sewerage systems and drainage as well as ensuring the cleanliness of residential and public places”.

Besides that, Gana said he will work closely with the local council to address other issues including licences for business operators. 

“Most of the business operators here have complained to me that their applications are being delayed. 

“They also complained about the need to improve rubbish collection and the cleanliness of roadways. This would require me to work closely with the local council,” he said. 

Gana also said that he wants to make Subang Jaya a business hub in Selangor.

“This will provide opportunity for young people and it also can improve the life of those in the B40 category. So, I’m looking at the bigger picture,” he said. 

Confident of his chances

Gana admitted that he faced a tough three-cornered “Muhibbah” battle in Subang Jaya.

Despite that, Gana expressed his happiness at being named as the first Indian candidate for the Chinese majority constituency. 

“I’m optimistic about my chances and quite confident I can pull an upset here.

“During my walkabouts, the reception for me is good and I’m getting support from all communities and since the majority here are Chinese.

“So, this proves that PN are liked by the Chinese. Now, I have to ensure that the support translates to votes,” he said. 

Subang Jaya has over 110,000 voters and almost 54% of them are Chinese. 

Gana said his chances would be greater if the voter turnout is low.

“I’m confident of my chances but if the voter turnout is low, then I think it can further increase my chances of winning. 

“When the voter turnout is down, the incumbent’s majority is at stake,” he said.

Gana said that he avoided having large scale talks and opted for in-person meetings with the voters. 

“The people of Subang Jaya are well aware of their issues, candidates and who they want to vote for.

“They don’t need talks or goodies. All they need is a representative who can address their issues and serve them well,” he said. 

Gana said at most, he will bring along his four sons together with him for campaigning. 

“My second son studies in a Chinese school and that makes our communication with the Chinese community easier,” he said. 

If given the mandate, Gana said that he will quit acting and focus on serving the constituency. 

He, however said, a new movie of his is scheduled to be released in December. –  August 11, 2023.