Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki says Malays are beginning to understand that the unity government had never sidelined Islam or Malay-Bumiputeras.
PETALING JAYA: An Umno leader says that the unity government’s win in the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election proves that playing up racial and religious sentiments will no longer guarantee votes from the Malays.
In a Facebook post, Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said PH captured six of the eight Malay-majority electoral districts in Kuala Kubu Baharu which were won by Perikatan Nasional (PN) in last year’s state elections.
“This proves that Malay voters have changed their attitude. They are also beginning to understand that the unity government formed under the decree of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong does not sideline Islam or Malay-Bumiputeras,” he said.
“(Instead), it is the foundation of the country’s multi-ethnic and multi-religious stability.”
PH’s Pang Sock Tao won the by-election with a majority of 3,869 votes. She polled 14,000 votes, defeating PN’s candidate Khairul Azhari Saut (10,131), Parti Rakyat Malaysia’s Hafizah Zainuddin (152) and independent candidate Nyau Ke Xin (188).
The final turnout of voters was 61.5%, lower than the 69.25% recorded in Kuala Kubu Baharu for the state polls last August.
Separately, another Umno leader told FMT that the party’s strong grassroots campaigning in the eight Malay-majority electoral districts contributed to Pang’s win.
Noting that the party has an astute sense of the key issues that Malay voters focus on, the Umno insider said the party also did well to campaign house-to-house to deliver their key messages.
“Umno is well known for that,” added the insider who did not wish to be identified.
He said Barsan Nasional played an important role in mobilising “foot soldiers” to get voters to the polling centres.
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