MELAKA – Perikatan Nasional’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic and economy over the past year could be a wooing factor for the coalition in the coming Melaka polls, said Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali.
Speaking to the waiting press at an event in Serkam tonight, the PN election director said it would be fairly easy to garner voters’ confidence due to the coalition’s performance.
“I consider it not too difficult to convince voters because they have seen our track record and achievement in facing both the health and economic crises.
“The government led by Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin at that time succeeded in alleviating the country’s troubles and moving it into a safer phase.
“Today, we are in a better situation as a result of courageous actions in the past one and a half years,” said Azmin, who is also a member of the Bersatu supreme council.
Responding to questions pertaining to the delay in announcing PN’s chief minister candidate, the international trade and industry minister said the coalition’s main agenda is to convince balloters to cast their vote for them.
“We will focus our time on explaining our manifesto and policies to be implemented.”
He also reiterated Muhyiddin’s statement previously that PN’s chief minister candidate will come from Bersatu, but stopped short of naming the candidate.
When asked why PN did not include an enactment on the anti-hopping law in its manifesto, he said that the coalition is more focused on economic recovery and transitioning to the endemic phase.
He added that any bills pertaining to such an enactment should be prioritised at the federal level.
Commenting on the Kedah government’s immediate ban on alcohol and gambling, he said more engagement should have been conducted with various parties before the decision was made in the northern state.
“The decision was made by the state authority and government. I think we want to maintain a very harmonious situation in Malaysia, including in Kedah.
“I would like to see more engagement conducted with various parties and communities so that we have understanding and mutual respect in this multiracial society,” he said.
Yesterday, Sanusi announced that the state will neither issue new licences, nor renew existing ones for gambling effective immediately.
The Kedah PAS deputy commissioner said that apart from gambling licences, the state government will also restrict the sale of alcohol in public, including on the holiday island of Langkawi.
Liquor will only be allowed to be sold to non-Muslim consumers. – The Vibes, November 15, 2021
Additional reporting by Amar Shah Mohsen
