PETALING JAYA: Johor Perikatan Nasional (PN) is confident that a focus on national issues will boost its chances against Umno in the upcoming Mahkota by-election in Johor.
Deputy Johor PN chairman Abdullah Husin believed PN has a shot at winning the seat if it capitalises on public dissatisfaction on issues such as the rising cost of living.
This comes as Kluang Umno chief Jais Sarday today said he was optimistic that Barisan Nasional could win the Mahkota state seat with a comfortable 10,000 vote majority .
“PN has a chance of winning considering the wave of change (in national politics),” Abdullah told FMT.
“We can also win (if we capitalise on) issues such as the increase in the prices of goods, diesel, and various issues that are burdening the people.
“We will face this challenge by mobilising our machinery as effectively as possible and campaigning in a healthy manner.”
In the run-up to last Saturday’s Nenggiri by-election in Kelantan, BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said national issues played up by PN, like the prices of goods and the targeted diesel subsidy, would not influence voters.
BN went on to reclaim the seat on Aug 17 after Azmawi Fikri Abdul Ghani secured a thumping majority of 3,352 votes in a straight fight against PN’s Rizwadi Ismail.
Despite last Saturday’s defeat, Abdullah, who also leads Johor PAS, said PN’s election machinery was motivated by its convincing victory in the Sungai Bakap by-election.
PN retained the Sungai Bakap state seat after its candidate, Abidin Ismail, won with a majority of 4,267 votes over PH candidate Joohari Ariffin on July 6.
“The political atmosphere in Mahkota is similar to that in Sungai Bakap, so we will draw inspiration from Sungai Bakap,” he said.
The Sungai Bakap by-election was held following the death of PAS assemblyman Nor Zamri Latiff, who was also the Nibong Tebal PAS division chief, on May 24.
The Mahkota by-election was called following the death of Umno’s Mahkota assemblyman Sharifah Azizah Syed Zain on Aug 2. Nominations will be held on Sept 14 and early voting on Sept 24, with polling day falling on Sept 28.
