YOUNG voters have indicated their strong support for Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidates in the Pulai parliamentary and Simpang Jeram state by-elections throughout the campaign period, said Umno Youth chief Muhamad Akmal Saleh.

He hoped the positive momentum would continue and translate into votes at the ballot boxes on September 9 to help secure PH’s victory.

“We’re using a slightly different strategy, which is a one-to-one approach. We visit each branch to provide clear explanations as there are several issues that have not trickled down since the new government was set up and the state polls.

“This has raised doubt, so we are focusing on bringing out as many Umno Youth members to vote on September 9 and to vote for the unity government,” the Merlimau assemblyman told reporters during a community outreach programme at Kampung Kenangan Tun Dr Ismail 2 in Muar today.

On a statement Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Muhyiddin Yassin made yesterday, Akmal said as a former prime minister, Muhyiddin should not invoke religious sins as it could cause disunity among Malaysians.

“Muyhiddin is a leader, so the public will be affected each time he speaks. As a fellow leader, I feel we can have a difference in opinions and debate about ideology and policies, but such things (like religious sins) are not good for Malaysians.

“We want to campaign decently as we need mature and progressive politics. What’s sinful in religion isn’t ours to determine, so avoid such things and we hope this can stop so we can campaign properly,” Akmal said.

Muhyiddin’s claim that it would be sinful to vote for PH’s Pulai candidate Suhaizan Kaiat during a talk in Dataran Utama Kempas in Muar yesterday invited a slew of reactions from Malaysians.

Early voting for the by-elections will be held September 5, with polling on September 9. – Bernama, September 3, 2023.