Tengku Razaleigh (right)
GUA MUSANG, Nov 2 — The PAS Galas campaign alleged today that Barisan Nasional (BN) campaign chief Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah would eventually resort to vote buying in order to win the November 4 by-election.
PAS election director Datuk Halim Abdul Rahman says when that happens Umno’s desperation to win will be evident.
“We believe BN will use their financial strength, although everything looks calm, there may be danger beneath,” Abdul Halim told a press conference.
“Ku Li wants defend his status and he needs to prove that he is still an influential figure in Gua Musang. I believe Ku Li through his men will move from house to house to pay voters. This is their secret weapon,” said the Pengkalan Chepa MP.
When asked about the party’s move to pay outstation voters up to RM250, Abdul Halim defended the action saying that it was meant to help the Election Commission (EC) achieve high voter turnout. The seat's voter turnout in Election 2008 was 80.9 per cent.
“That is not for us. Many outstation voters may not be able to come back because of their work, but we are helping the EC,” said Abdul Halim.
PAS had previously pledged not to make personal attacks against Tengku Razaleigh who is also the Gua Musang Umno chief.
Just last week PAS election campaign adviser Datuk Wan Abdul Rahim Wan Abdullah said the veteran politician popularly known as Ku Li was responsible for the Orang Asli’s woes in the vast constituency.
Wan Rahim alleged that Ku Li who worked with PAS from 1990 to 1996 through the now-defunct Semangat 46 was responsible for Orang Asli affairs.
Ku Li’s return to Umno, which Wan Rahim called a betrayal, resulted in the Islamist party’s failure to address the Orang Asli problems.
Ku Li described the accusation as a lie, arguing that Orang Asli affairs were also handled by the then PAS president the late Datuk Fadhil Noor.
Today, Abdul Halim acknowledged that Ku Li remained an influential figure in Gua Musang but claimed that the latter’s popularity has dwindled over the years.
“Umno in Gua Musang has always been Ku Li’s Umno. But how popular he is today, compared to 30 years, or 20 years ago is yet to be seen,” said Abdul Halim.
Gua Musang Umno division secretary Abdul Aziz Yusoff will face Dr Zulkefli Mohamad from PAS for the Galas seat.
By Adib Zalkapli TMI
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