GOMBAK – Pakatan Harapan (PH) leaders took full advantage of a rally here last night to drive home one clear message to their supporters – use the coming election to teach the “traitors”, as the defectors from the coalition were called, a lesson.
It was perhaps apt that the event would take place in the Gombak constituency, whose incumbent MP Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali was one of the key architects of the “Sheraton Move” that caused the collapse of the PH government in February 2020.
The mere mention of Azmin’s name throughout the programme drew strong jeers from the crowd, who made themselves clear that the former PKR deputy president is no longer welcome.
PKR vice-president Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, who has been tasked by PH to take on his former mentor in the parliamentary seat, meanwhile, was given a hero’s welcome when he took the stage last night.
Amirudin is also the mentri besar of Selangor.
The mood of the crowd during yesterday’s event also bore semblance to the buzz and atmosphere that were existent in the build-up to the 2018 general election, which saw PH secure a historic election win.
Shouts of “reformasi”, “kita boleh” and “lawan tetap lawan” reverberated around the venue throughout the event, which was held in front of Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) AU2 multipurpose hall.
Despite the rain, at least 5,000 supporters thronged the venue, while thousands of others streamed online on various platforms.
The strong attendance was in stark contrast to a rally conducted by Azmin’s Perikatan Nasional (PN) on Monday night, which saw less than a thousand supporters showing up at the MPAJ AU2 open field located adjacent to the where PH hosted its event yesterday.
In leading the chorus of censures against the “traitors”, PH chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he deliberately picked Gombak as the venue for Selangor PH’s grand finale rally “to teach them a lesson”.
“What kind of human, after being voted in by the rakyat, would go on to be power hungry, and was willing to betray the mandate given by the voters?
“We will kick Azmin out of Gombak, let him suffer a crushing defeat in Gombak.
“Let this be a lesson to everyone not to accept a traitor who betrays a mandate,” he said.
On the same note, Anwar pleaded to Malaysians to help him save the country by voting PH in as the next government.
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Azmin the father of all traitors
In his address, Amirudin said the large gathering of supporters last night reminded him of a similar turnout in 2018 just before the general election.
“Your attendance tonight makes me realise that the people harbour a thousand hopes for the country to change for the better, be more stable and fair, and be assured of prosperity.
“Unfortunately, the person who was given the mandate previously does not remember your sacrifices. Before anything else happens, I would like to give my assurance that, God willing, I promise not to ever betray your trust,” he said.
DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke Siew Fook, meanwhile, said that going by the crowd and atmosphere at the event, it was clear that the wave of support from the people now is greater than even that of the 2018 polls.
He said seeing the strength of PH today is perhaps what is causing its political rivals to be in disarray.
In rallying the crowd at the event, PKR information chief Fahmi Fadzil said it is now the duty of those in Gombak to put an end to Azmin’s political career, describing the Bersatu supreme council member as the country’s biggest traitor.
“Azmin Ali, this is where we will end the political career of the ‘father of all traitors’. All of you (voters) must finish off his political life, the biggest traitor in Malaysia,” he said.
Fahmi said he was also surprised to see the huge turnout at the rally last night, which he said is reminiscent of the situation prior to the 2018 general election.
“When I looked back at the old clips, there were friends on the streets who couldn’t believe we unseated Umno and BN (in 2018). But it turns out our job is not done yet. God has given us another opportunity, this is our chance,” he said.
Meanwhile, PH Youth chief Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen said the public should not only focus on toppling Azmin, but should also train their guns at dislodging Barisan Nasional from the government. – The Vibes, November 17, 2022
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