JELEBU: Parti Wawasan Negara must win its contested seats in the Negri Sembilan election to become a meaningful partner in the state’s administration under the opposition alliance, says party chairman Tan Sri Rais Yatim.
Rais said Wawasan was contesting only four state seats including Klawang, Sikamat, Mambau and Gemas under the electoral arrangement with its allies, making victories in those constituencies crucial to strengthening the coalition’s position after the Aug 1 polls.
“Wawasan must win the seats it is contesting. Only then can we be regarded as an addition to what our allies achieve under the coalition umbrella," he told reporters outside the Jelebu nomination centre at Dewan Besar Kuala Klawang here on Saturday (July 18).
"I can say the potential is very good. What matters now are the tactics and methods we adopt. We need to go into the villages and explain our policies. People have heard many promises before, but what they want to see is our determination to translate those policies into action,” he said.
He noted that Wawasan was campaigning alongside its opposition partners, with its focus on convincing voters that the Madani government had fallen short at both the federal and state levels.
Rais said the party would highlight issues affecting the rural economy, farmers, New Village communities, the state’s adat institutions and constitutional matters throughout the campaign.
“We want the people to see Wawasan as a champion of the economy, the Constitution, the rule of law and community interests. We are a multiracial party and we hope to offer a fresh alternative,” he said.
Rais added that the opposition alliance would need at least 19 seats to form the next Negri Sembilan government, expressing confidence that inter-party cooperation could provide a credible challenge to Pakatan Harapan.
On the contest in Klawang, where his son, Danni Rais, will face incumbent Datuk Bakri Sawir, who is also his cousin, Rais dismissed suggestions that the race would create a family rift.
“This is not about one cousin contesting against another. This is about political principles. Politics is about national, state, social, economic and cultural issues, not personal matters,” he said.
“People in the same family can hold different political views while continuing to respect and care for one another. I have reminded both of them not to lose the values of family. There is no hostility between them. They still visit and respect each other, but each has their own political convictions,” he added.
