KOTA ISKANDAR: Saturday's (July 11) Johor state election will be a chance for voters to send a message to "dinosaur parties", as even a modest share of the vote for the 50-day-old Parti Bersama Malaysia (Bersama) would be heard all the way to Putrajaya, says Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli.
The Bersama president said that if the party managed to secure 15% of the vote share this Saturday, it could spook mainstream parties.
"No matter how capable a leader is, we cannot change much straight away; it takes time to repair the damage that already exists.
"But if we start now, and the way to start is by sending a message to these dinosaur parties – if a small party just 50 days old wins at least 15% of Johoreans' votes on Saturday, then it will not be because of Rafizi or Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.
"It will be because the people understood the message and the vision, because this is what the people want," he said during a ceramah at Kota Iskandar on Thursday (July 9) night.
There are over 2.7 million eligible voters in Johor.
Rafizi argued that such a result would force the established parties to take notice.
"These big, powerful parties will have no choice but to think: if a party gets 15% of the vote in 50 days, and if they don't try to change and deliver what they promised, in another two years all of them could collapse," he said.
"That is the importance of your votes this Saturday," he added.
Referring to the party's mousedeer symbol, Rafizi urged the crowd to "vote for this kancil", insisting that the outcome mattered less than the statement it would make.
"Winning or losing is not our aim," he said.
"Our aim is to land a blow on the old parties that have fooled the people for so long.
"If we manage to get 15% of the vote, God willing the message that began in Johor will reach Putrajaya and other states – and that would be a big enough contribution from Johor's voters," he added.
Bersama is contesting 15 state seats in the Johor polls.
Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN) are contesting all 56 seats each, while Perikatan Nasional (PN) is contesting 33 seats.
Johor will go to the polls this Saturday (July 11).
