Don’t be afraid to vote for PN and PAS, Azmin Ali tells non-Malays

MUAR: The non-Malays should not be afraid of voting for Perikatan Nasional and PAS in the Pulai and Simpang Jeram by-elections, says Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali.

The Perikatan information chief added that the political coalition represents all the people in the country regardless of race and religion.

“The Indian and Chinese communities have been living peacefully under the PAS-led government in Kelantan and Terengganu. PAS has been ruling in Kelantan for more than five decades and three decades in Terengganu.

“If these two states can do it, there should be no reason for it not to be successful in Simpang Jeram and Pulai as long as we hold on to our idealism of lifting Malaysians in general to a better place,” he said.

He said this during a speech at the Grand Finale Perikatan Nasional ceramah at Kampung Parit Keroma Darat, here on Thursday (Sept 7) night.

Azmin added that Perikatan is also not a “kampung” party but represents all walks of people in the country, regardless if they are in Kelantan or Johor.

PAS deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said parties that claimed Islamic nations are only for Muslims were wrong.

“An Islamic nation also gives non-Muslims the right to freely exercise their rights and religion. Islam has never forced or disturbed the rights of the non-Muslim. If we look at Kelantan, it is led by a single party—PAS—that protects the rights of Muslims and non-Muslims.

“Every parliamentary location in Kelantan has a representative from Gerakan so that every non-Muslim issue is brought up to the government to be dealt with.

“This is not about getting votes, but what is more important is the dignity of our country,” he said, adding that he urged Umno members to join Perikatan instead of only voting for them.

Meanwhile, Muafakat Nasional president Tan Sri Annuar Musa said that Perikatan will always open its ‘door’ for Umno to return to Muafakat Nasional should the party become aware of the mistake that they have made.

“That is why during this election we are not against our friends from Umno, especially their voters; now that there is no ‘dacing’ (Barisan Nasional logo) in the voting paper, vote for Perikatan.

“That is the only way to save Umno; that is why, when I was sacked from the party, I did not dispose of Muafakat Nasional, because this is the only way that Umno can return,” he said.

Annuar said the current Umno is led by a president who has disposed of leaders who he thinks are not good for the party.

“Is Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein bad? Then what about Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba, Datuk Halimah Mohamed Sadique, and Datuk Seri Hasni Mohammad?

“Johor has always produced good leaders, but the problem right now is that they (Umno) think they are too good,” he said, adding that Perikatan is also an idea born from the leaders of the state.