ALOR SETAR: The PAS Ulama Council delegates have been reminded that party machinery should already be actively deployed on the ground, without waiting for the dissolution of the Sabah State Assembly.
Its Sabah representative, Tarmizi Yahya, who was debating the motion on how to empower the Ulama's election machinery preparation, said that it was important to make effective preparations ahead of the Sabah polls and to meet the people as early as possible.
"I would like to remind all of us here, let us not wait until the state assembly is dissolved to make an appearance on the ground. Otherwise, we will be like our opponents, who only appear during elections. The machinery must be on the ground now," he said during the 64th Ulama wing annual muktamar here on Saturday (Sept 13).
Talk among the ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) political circles is the possibility of Hajiji calling for the election in the second week of September or immediately after Malaysia Day on Sept 16.
They anticipate that the dissolution could happen after the main Malaysia Agreement 1963 Action and Implementation Council meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, which was scheduled for Sept 12 in Kuala Lumpur.
He said that the Sabah voters are facing various challenges, including the issue of native customary land and the high cost of living.
"All these require the ulama leadership to offer the right solution," he said.
He also urged the delegates and party machinery to use simple language to attract young voters.
"These days, all the information is at our fingertips. The ulama should avoid long-winded writings or commentary.
"Voters want simple and short videos that are easy to understand," he added.
