State polls: Perikatan lacks ideas, desperately wooing Umno grassroot voters, says Jalaluddin

JELEBU: Perikatan Nasional constantly urging Umno supporters to vote for them as a sign of displeasure towards the Umno president shows the coalition’s desperation and lack of ideas, says Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias.

The state Umno liaison committee chairman said this was the only issue Perikatan leaders harped on to sow hatred among the Umno grassroots towards the party leadership.

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“The party leadership and the state elections are two different things. Umno members must know the importance of defending the unity government,” he said at a press conference after attending an event at the Sam Tee temple here on Sunday (Aug 6).

Also present was Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh.

Jalaluddin, who is Barisan’s candidate for the Pertang state seat here, said the approach taken by Perikatan leaders also showed they had no other ideas or issues to raise.

“They don’t have anything else to talk about except issues that raise displease, anger and heighten emotions among our voters.

“They have been doing this since the start,” he said.

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He also alleged that Perikatan candidates in various state constituencies have begun launching personal attacks on both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan candidates.

“I will answer these issues later,” he added.

On Pakatan and Barisan’s manifesto announcement on August 12, Jalaluddin said Perikatan could never compete with them on this.

“It will be launched by the (caretaker) Negri mentri besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun and myself, where we will outline our plans for the community, especially the youth.

“I am confident they (Perikatan) cannot contest the unity government’s vision and plans for Negri Sembilan in the next five years,” he said.

On Saturday (August 5), Perikatan secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin told Umno members to vote for Perikatan as a sign for party president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to step down.

Hamzah also claimed that there was already a big percentage of Umno supporters who saw Perikatan as an alternative.

Separately, Jalaluddin said Perikatan’s hesitance to announce their candidate for the Mentri Besar post may signal their lack of qualified candidates.

“It’s up to them. For the unity government, we decided to work together. The decision to name our Mentri Besar candidate was left to the Pakatan and Barisan leadership.

“For Perikatan, you can choose to name or not. Maybe they don’t have the right candidate for the Mentri Besar post,” he added.

Jalaluddin was responding to Hamzah’s statement that there was no need for Perikatan to announce their Negri Mentri Besar candidate yet.

Jalaluddin is in a straight fight against Perikatan’s Amiruddin Hassan for the Pertang state seat.

Polling day for Negri Sembilan, Selangor, Penang, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu falls on Aug 12 with early voting on Aug 8.