KUALA LUMPUR – Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) president-designate Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin’s campaign tactics have become the target of jokes and outrage on social media, as she canvasses for votes ahead of the 15th general election (GE15) just four days away.
Videos of Zuraida clad in the party’s signature purple while standing on a road divider in the middle of a busy street and holding a campaign poster of herself have been making rounds on social media, with users poking fun at her actions.
Similar videos of her standing on the road divider and urging passing motorists to vote for her are also on PBM’s TikTok account.
Twitter user @KulupFans posted one such video, sarcastically writing: “Where are this old lady’s children? How can they leave their mother to beg in the middle of the road just for a bite of rice?”
Mana anak2 orang tua ni.Sanggup mereka biarkan mak mereka main tengah jalan,mengemis demi sesuap nasi pic.twitter.com/y2Uyb9WEqD
— Abdul Rani Kulup Fans (@KulupFans) November 15, 2022
Another Twitter user, @bumilangit, shared a recording of a livestream on PBM’s official TikTok, quipping that one of the best comments he saw was one which suggested that Zuraida was a roadside pickled fruit seller.
Komen paling win : acik jual pelam asam boi ke tu?
— Zulfadzli (@bumilangit) November 15, 2022
FYI, depantu sikit kat traffic light memang ada orang selalu jual pelam asam boi + cili padi pic.twitter.com/HAeLpkA3w8
Zuraida is hoping to retain the Ampang parliamentary seat in GE15, which she has held since 2008 after she won the seat on a PKR ticket. Following the Sheraton Move, she joined Bersatu and later PBM.
Appearing to come to Zuraida’s defense, user @vladputiner said that such campaign tactics are not new for the caretaker plantation industries and commodities minister.
“It is her (Zuraida’s) habit during every election to campaign in the middle of the road, especially when traffic is heavy. (She has been doing this) since she was in PKR.”
Mmg habit dia setiap kali Pilihan Raya akan dok kempen kat tgh2 tu esp time jem. Even masa dlm PKR lagik
— House of Labak ? (@vladputiner) November 15, 2022
User @Syaz1_75 also pointed out that Zuraida’s risky campaign style could bring about adverse consequences instead of garnering support for the Ampang incumbent.
“It is dangerous to stand on that narrow divider. It is not only dangerous for her, but also to other road users.”
Bahaya kot dok atas divider kecik tu. Bahaya kpd dia dan bahaya kpd pengguna jln raya lain
— Love My Watan?????? (@Syaz1_75) November 15, 2022
Meanwhile, in a statement today, Zuraida urged voters to consider her ministerial achievements when casting their votes in the Ampang constituency, which is set to see a nine-cornered battle.
Prior to being the plantation industries and commodities minister, she also served as the housing and local government minister under the Perikatan Nasional (PN) and the PH governments.
Malaysians will head to the polls this Saturday. – The Vibes, November 15, 2022
