It’s on: The flag war between Barisan and Perikatan, using the PAS logo, is heating up as both parties put up their respective flags in conjunction with the Nenggiri by-election. — Picture courtesy of Sinar Harian
PETALING JAYA: The wave of discontent towards the Federal Government which was shown in the Sungai Bakap by-election in Penang last month will continue in the Nenggiri polls, claims Perikatan Nasional.
The coalition’s leaders believe that national issues such as anger over the restructuring of diesel subsidies, which they claimed raised the prices of goods and services, will give the coalition an edge in the by-election.
Perikatan election director Datuk Seri Sanusi Mohd Nor said such negative sentiments would help the coalition retain Nenggiri by a 2,000-vote majority in the polls scheduled for Aug 17.
Sanusi added that the green wave, which had propelled Perikatan to capture Nenggiri – a former Barisan Nasional stronghold – in the state polls last year, was still strong.
“At the same time, Perikatan’s machinery has started going into Orang Asli settlements to campaign,” Sanusi told reporters during a campaign stop yesterday, referring to the community in Nenggiri which contributes about 2,800 votes.
“In this era, distance is not an obstacle as we have many ways of conveying information,” Sanusi said as reported by Sinar Harian.
Perikatan, which comprises PAS, Bersatu and Gerakan, had won Nenggiri by an 810-vote majority in the 2023 state election.
A by-election was called after the seat was declared vacant by Kelantan state assembly Speaker Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah on June 19, after its incumbent Mohd Azizi Abu Naim ceased to be a member of Bersatu.
Perikatan is banking on Mohd Rizwadi Ismail, 41, a coordinator for the Kelantan government’s religious teachers in Gua Musang and an ex-Navy officer, to defend the seat this time.
He is facing Barisan’s Mohd Azmawi Fikri Abdul Ghani, who is Kelantan Umno Youth chief.
Perikatan had successfully defended the Sungai Bakap state seat in Penang last month against Barisan’s partner Pakatan Harapan by obtaining a winning majority of 4,267 votes, larger than the 1,563 margin that the coalition obtained in the 2023 election.
In that by-election, analysts attributed Perikatan’s victory to how it campaigned on anger over the government’s decision to switch to a targeted diesel subsidy system which saw retail prices of the fuel go up to RM3.35 per litre.
In a ceramah in Kampung Bertam Baru as part its campaign for Nenggiri, Sanusi alluded to how anger over the targeted diesel subsidy system would again benefit Perikatan.
“Their policies such as the new diesel subsidy system have no justification or reason. They call it the targeted diesel subsidy system but ordinary people like us only know that the price of diesel went up to RM3.35 per litre from RM2.15 per litre,” Sanusi said.
“So we will send them a message in this by-election. This government should not be voted for. We will ensure that they lose in Nenggiri and lose in the 16th General Election.”
