Boycott will only give PH the edge, says Muhyiddin

Perikatan Nasional chairman Muhyiddin Yassin said he is ‘110%’ sure its candidate will win the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election.

PETALING JAYA: Perikatan Nasional chairman Muhyiddin Yassin has urged voters not to boycott the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election on May 11, saying that doing so would only benefit the unity government’s candidate.

Muhyiddin was asked to comment on speculation that Malay and Indian voters would boycot the polls.

“Better to not boycott the by-election. Even if they are angry with the government, if they boycott the polls, it would give the candidate from the government an added advantage.

“If the voters are dissatisfied with the government, then they should exercise their right to vote. They have the right to choose who to vote for.

“If they wish to boycott the government, then they have the option of voting for PN. Only this would be effective (instead of a boycott),” he told reporters at the Hulu Selangor district multipurpose hall and sports complex at Kampung Tun Abdul Razak in Kuala Kubu Bharu today.

Muhyiddin also said by-election could serve as a referendum for the public to provide feedback on the government’s performance, whether at state or federal level.

Asked if he was confident of a victory by PN candidate Khairul Azhari Saut, he said “110%”.

“But the decision-makers are the voters here,” he said, referring to Barisan Nasional chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s comment that he was 100% sure of a Pakatan Harapan victory.

“Maybe he was basing (his confidence) on the past candidate. That was in the past, it’s different now.

“This is why we decided to field a Malay candidate. It’s not a racial matter, but based on the demands of a large number of voters,” he said.

Khairul, who is the Bersatu Hulu Selangor acting chief, will face PH’s Pang Sock Tao, Parti Rakyat Malaysia’s Hafizah Zainudin and independent candidate Nyau Ke Xin.

The seat fell vacant following the death of three-term DAP assemblyman Lee Kee Hiong on March 21 from cancer.