‘Unfulfilled promises by PH, choice of candidate among reasons for BN’s win in Cameron Highlands’

January 27, 2019

SIBU: Unfulfilled promises by Pakatan Harapan (PH) to voters and the choice of candidate were among the many reasons for Barisan Nasional (BN)’s win in the just concluded Cameron Highlands parliamentary by-election, said Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

Abdul Karim expressed this personal view today when asked for the factors contributing to BN’s success in retaining the seat, which it held since 1974 general election.

“There are many reasons why voters gave their votes to BN in Cameron Highlands despite the landslide win by PH in the last GE.

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“Personally, I see that voters could see that what PH had promised before the last GE was just empty promises. PH had promised many changes if they managed to win over the government…in their manifesto and within 100 days after winning the government. Those had become empty promises and capitalised to the fullest by BN,” the Asajaya assemblyman said.

He added that another glaring reason for BN’s victory was the choice of candidate. Cameron Highlands is known to be having many Orang Asli.

He observed that all these years, the seat has been contested by an Indian candidate whether from BN or opposition.

“BN made a drastic move by putting an Orang Asli candidate and it went down very well with the Orang Asli voters. PH, however, still was in the old mode and placed a candidate of Indian ethnicity and they had to pay the price for it.

“This is a good signal to future elections whether in Sarawak, Malaya or Sabah. Choice of candidate is very important. One just cannot claim a seat just because its one’s party quota and placed a candidate of that party leader’s choice.”

In the final analysis, he pointed out that an in-depth study needs to be done on the winnability of that candidate, his background, ethnicity, and character among others.

“BN made a good move by placing the candidate as BN direct candidate…not from MIC, UMNO, PPP or others. What is important is the candidate can deliver and here we can see the result.

“The majority was six fold what is being won by BN in the PRU (general election). A good signal for GPS in facing the next PRN (state election),” Abdul Karim said.

Ramli Mohd Nor, 61 – a direct candidate of BN (not from any of its component parties), won the by-election with a majority of 3,238 votes after securing 12,038 votes.

Ramli defeated three other candidates namely M.Manogaran of PH who garnered 8,800 votes, and two independents, former Institut Aminuddin Baki lecturer Sallehudin Ab Talib (314 votes ) and farmer Wong Seng Yee (276 votes).

The Cameron Highlands parliamentary by-election was called after the Election Court declared the victory of Datuk C. Sivarraajh from BN in the 14th General Election (GE14), null and void for vote-buying. -TheBorneoPost