DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke has denied claims that the Chinese community in Bentong will not vote in the Pelangai state by-election on Saturday.

He said the party machinery has worked hard to persuade its supporters in the constituency to vote to ensure victory for Barisan Nasional (BN).

There are 4,000 non-Malay voters in Telemong in the Pelangai seat.

“This Saturday we will make sure that the (DAP) votes we have, we will transfer them to BN. With this formula I am confident that we will help BN win with a comfortable majority,” he said at the Telemong Tang Lung Festival last night.

A by-election was called following the death of assemblyman Johari Harun, 53, in a plane crash in Shah Alam, Selangor, on August 17.

In the 2022 general election, Johari won to seat for BN with a majority of 4,048 votes, defeating Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidate Kasim Samat who obtained 3,260 votes. Ahmed Wafiuddin Shamsuri of Pakatan Harapan received 2,031 votes and Pejuang’s Isa Ahmad, 65 votes.

Loke said he had instructed Pahang DAP to campaign in earnest for BN and to provide back-up in the form of moral support, resources and manpower.

He said such a strategy had worked in the Tioman state election.

Loke said the biggest challenge facing the party was getting voters who were working elsewhere to return to Pelangai to vote.

The Pelangai by-election will see a three-way clash between BN candidate Amizar Abu Adam, Kasim Samat (PN) and Independent Haslihelmy DM Zulhasni. – Bernama, October 5, 2023.