Sg Bakap polls: Voting for Perikatan sends strong message, says Muhyiddin

NIBONG TEBAL: Voting for Perikatan Nasional and electing its candidate in the Sungai Bakap by-election would send a strong message to the government regarding concerns over rising living costs and the country's economy, says the coalition's chairman, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

He stated that the country's declining economy had impacted the people and worsened in recent months.

"The latest government move was the removal of subsidies for diesel, which many reports indicate has caused prices of raw ingredients to rise.

"It was said that RM4bil in savings could be achieved from the implementation of targeted subsidies for diesel, but many people will suffer from it.

"Although this is just a by-election, the vote would send a signal to Putrajaya," he told around 200 people during a tea session in Simpang Ampat on Thursday (June 27).

Muhyiddin, who is also the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia president, later told reporters that the signal would be sent not only to the Federal Government but also to the state.

"The people are suffering, and the aid given by the government is not enough to solve many problems affecting them," he said.

Earlier, Perikatan Nasional information chief Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, who was present, said locals and traders in the Sungai Kechil area had all complained to him about many problems they were facing, either on a national or state level.

"In Sungai Bakap, the issue is a clean water supply for residents.

"We have achieved over 60 years of independence, and Penang is supposed to be among the most developed states in the country, yet we still have infrastructure problems.

"At the market, people have complained to me that things are pricier now and their purchasing power has reduced.

"We need to send a message to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim that if he cannot solve the economic and water supply problems," he said.

Perikatan Nasional candidate Abidin Ismail, 56, is engaged in a straight fight for the Sungai Bakap state seat by-election with Pakatan Harapan’s Dr Joohari Ariffin, 60, following the death of the incumbent Nor Zamri Latiff on May 24 due to stomach inflammation.