Learn from my mistake and back PH, Bersatu man tells voters

Tanjong Karang MP Dr Zulkafperi Hanapi of Bersatu told Kuala Kubu Baharu voters that he did not have sufficient funds to serve his constituency.

HULU SELANGOR: A Bersatu MP, who has since backed the unity government, tonight pleaded with voters to back Pakatan Harapan’s candidate in the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election, saying they should learn from his bitter experience.

Dr Zulkafperi Hanapi said it was not easy being an opposition MP, as there were a lot of things he could not do for his constituency, Tanjong Karang, due to lack of funds.

He claimed that his monthly salary could be wiped out in a week from just attending weddings and funerals at his constituency where he was expected to donate money as well as pay the wages for his aides.

The lack of funds also meant that he could not organise programmes for the people despite many requests from the people.

“I received brickbats for a year. I was told I was useless as an MP. I was asked why, as an MP, I could not do anything,” he told a crowd at a ceramah in Ampang Pecah.

Also present were Umno Supreme Council member Zambry Abdul Kadir and Selangor Pakatan Harapan chairman Amirudin Shari.

“So please don’t vote for an assemblyman from the opposition. I don’t think he can get very far (in terms of helping the people). It won’t be any different from what I have experienced,” he said, adding that he was once labelled a “missing MP”.

Zulkafperi was one of the six MPs from Bersatu who had declared support for Anwar Ibrahim’s administration.

The other five are Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang), Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang), Zahari Kechik (Jeli) and Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar).

All six MPs justified their support for the federal government by citing the needs of their constituencies, but said they would remain loyal to Bersatu.

The Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election on May 11 will see a four-cornered fight among Pakatan Harapan (PH), Perikatan Nasional (PN), Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) and an independent candidate.

PH is represented by DAP’s Pang Sock Tao while PN has fielded Hulu Selangor Bersatu acting chief Khairul Azhari Saut. They will be facing PRM’s Hafizah Zainuddin 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.