BN working to ensure members vote for PH at Johor by-elections, says Zahid

Barisan Nasional (BN) is taking proactive steps to ensure that its supporters vote for the Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidates in the two by-elections in Johor on Sept 9, says BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

He said the measures included explaining to Umno members the need to support PH based on the BN-PH cooperation and teaching the older members to select the candidates using the PH symbol.

The explanation sessions began on the eve of nominations, and Johor Umno chief Mohamed Khaled Nordin and Johor Menteri Besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi would be taking follow-up action to ensure members were properly briefed, he said.

"I am confident of the help from the divisional leadership throughout Johor to clarify this matter. 

"Voters should not be confused, and the Johor menteri besar said practice sessions have been held to teach hardcore BN voters to pick PH. 

"This has been done at the level of polling district centres and localities since yesterday," he said at a press conference in Rompin yesterday, when asked what measures BN was taking to ensure that its supporters, especially senior citizens, would know to vote for PH.

The Pulai parliamentary and Simpang Jeram state by-elections were triggered by the death of the incumbent, Amanah deputy president Salahuddin Ayub, on July 23.

PH is fielding Suhaizan Kaiat in Pulai and Nazri Abdul Rahman in Simpang Jeram. They are involved in three-cornered fights with Perikatan Nasional and independent candidates.

Zahid also said BN was stepping up its use of social media in the election campaigns as the 15th general election last year and the recent state elections showed that they were lagging in this area of psychological warfare.

He said campaigning through social media had proven to be effective in the battle for the hearts and minds of voters in recent times.

Asked about the possibility of 3R (race, religion and royalty) issues being played up in the by-elections, Zahid said he was optimistic that Johor voters would not be influenced by such tactics.

"Johor people are different, and I see that they actually reject the 'narrow’ issues raised in the six state elections," the Umno president said.