‘Top generals’ tasked with winning Selangor for Perikatan

KUALA LUMPUR: Bersatu leaders Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, Datuk Seri Radzi Jidin and Datuk Seri Abdul Rashid Asari have been tasked with winning Selangor in the coming state election for Perikatan Nasional.

Bersatu president and Perikatan chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin named the three “top generals” to head the coalition’s election machinery as it targets to seize control of the state from Pakatan Harapan.

Azmin and Abdul Rashid, who is Selangor Bersatu chief, are the current assemblymen for Bukit Antarabangsa and Selat Kelang respectively.

Radzi, a former Cabinet minister, is Putrajaya MP while Azmin failed to retain his Gombak parliamentary seat in last year’s general election.

Speaking to the media at the end of Bersatu’s delayed 2022 annual general assembly here yesterday, Muhyiddin said Azmin had made the calculations and felt that the target could be achieved.

“We know we are capable of it but PKR will do all sorts of things to ensure that they do not lose to us.

“We hope in terms of funding, we will be able to put forward our candidates with the help of our fellow Perikatan components, especially PAS and Gerakan,” said Muhyiddin.

The former prime minister and Pagoh MP said that despite Bersatu’s accounts having been frozen by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission for investigation, the people would vote for Perikatan in the next state election.

Earlier, at the winding-up of the assembly, Muhyiddin said Perikatan would prove in the next state election that the people chose them despite them not having money.

“We are political tools in a democracy but it is the people who will decide.

“A Pontian MP said there will be no recession this year despite the World Bank and every other world authorities saying that the Russia-Ukraine war and many other factors will affect the global economy.

“Is this the quality of ministers we have now?”

Muhyiddin also noted that bumiputra now make up the majority of not just the B40 but B61 (bottom 61% of the population) group.

“The government today has passed the 100-day mark with no concrete policies to solve the people’s economic problems.

“This will turn people to vote for us,” he said.

Selangor is among six states facing an election, which has to be held by August this year.