GEORGE TOWN – Bersatu remains optimistic about luring former Umno Youth head Khairy Jamaluddin over to its side in time for the upcoming elections in six states.
Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has confirmed that a special meeting will be held with Khairy on Monday.
It is believed that he will offer Khairy a chance to lead PN in either Negri Sembilan or Selangor in the elections.
The other states expected to have polls, expected within the next two months, to determine their governments for the next terms are Penang, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu.
“I have fixed a date and he (Khairy) has agreed to come and see me next week,” said Muhyiddin, who had a short-lived stint as the country’s eighth prime minister.
Now leading the opposition bloc of Perikatan Nasional (PN) as its chairman, Muhyiddin said that the coalition has expressed hope that Khairy joins.
“There’s optimism that he will join our struggle,” he told reporters after officiating at the launch of PN’s election machinery for Penang at the state PN convention here.
The event was held at the Wisma Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu, the state Gerakan headquarters here.
He added that Khairy is intelligent enough to see the advantages of joining Bersatu.
Khairy, formerly a three-term Rembau MP in Negri Sembilan, was sacked by Umno in January.
A month later, he had expressed openness to the idea of being a menteri besar candidate for another party.
He had then hinted that he may contest in the Selangor state election.
Without revealing who, he stressed that there had been discussions with some parties on what role he could play in this regard.
Speaking to reporters at the PN event today, Muhyiddin has also accused the federal government of politically prosecuting its opponents.
Referring to the raid at the home of opposition leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin by the Inland Revenue Board’s enforcement division for his alleged failure to declare his returns, Muhyiddin claimed that it is always Bersatu and PAS leaders who are deemed to be at fault.
“I think so. There’s no reason why it (the raid) is not political prosecution.
“It seems like the focus has always been on Bersatu, PAS and the rest.
“In my case also, it is all politically motivated.
“They have to stop pick(ing)…and give (a) chance. This is a democracy, people are free to do anything...(this is) unless people have done wrong; then it is a different matter.
“Then it is up to police to investigate. (You should) not take action unilaterally for your political gains. I don’t think it is fair.”
On the upcoming election, he opined that PN can win up to 20 of the 40 state seats in Penang.
Muhyiddin urged PN members to redouble efforts to woo more voters in the stare. – The Vibes, June 17, 2023
