Chinese voters play a crucial role in Pulai outcome, says Dr Wee

JOHOR BARU: The MCA machinery in Pulai is working hard to ensure voters will come out to cast their ballots on polling day, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.

The MCA president said it was important to maintain a high Chinese voter turnout in this by-election.

“In previous elections in Pulai, the percentage of Chinese voters casting their votes has always been about 70%.

“For this by-election, it is highly important that this figure can be maintained, which will provide victory for the unity government candidate’s Suhaizan Kaiat,” he added.

Dr Wee, who is also the Ayer Hitam MP, said this when met before introducing Suhaizan to MCA machinery and grassroot members at the party’s Pulai division office here yesterday.

He added that MCA, together with its machinery, has been very supportive of Suhaizan’s candidacy.

He also said Suhaizan, who had served as the Johor state speaker before, was well known in the area, especially among the locals here.

“Our state leaders have been working hard with our machinery since day one of this by-election to drum up support for Suhaizan. His victory will ensure political stability and prosperity in our country,” added Dr Wee.

Suhaizan, who is also Johor Amanah vice-chairman, said he was thankful for the support from MCA.

He added that after more than a week of campaigning, not many people within the constituency realised there was a by-election taking place.

“This is a concern for me because this by-election is highly important for the stability of the current government, as we need Pulai to maintain our two-thirds majority in Parliament,” he said.

The seat was left vacant following the death of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub at age 61. He was Pulai MP and Simpang Jeram assemblyman.

The by-election is being contested by Suhaizan, Perikatan Nasional’s Zulkifli Jaafar, and Independent candidate Samsudin Mohamad Fauzi.

Pulai is a mixed seat, with Malays making up 44.18% of the total 166,653 registered voters, followed by the Chinese (40.46%), Indians (12.31%) and other ethnicities (3.06%).

In the 15th General Election held in November last year, Salahuddin defended the seat and won with 64,900 votes (33,174 majority), defeating Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed (Umno/Barisan Nasional) who garnered 31,726 votes and Loh Kah Yong (Gerakan/Perikatan) with 20,677 votes.