KUCHING, Nov 4: It will be a game changer for the Malaysian politics if Barisan Nasional (BN) can win the Tanjung Piai by-election, opines Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing.
“A win by BN/MCA (Malaysian Chinese Association) at the Tanjung Piai by-election will not change the government of Malaysia, but it is a prelude to BN versus PH (Pakatan Harapan) in the coming 15th general election (GE15).
“A win by BN will tell the Malaysian voters they have no fear of the UMNO-PAS (United Malays National Organisation-Parti Islam Se-Malaysia) coalition. Malay political solidarity will have no impact on Malaysia as a multi-racial and multi-religious nation.
“This by-election result is a political game changer for Malaysian politics come GE15,” according to Masing here today.
He was commenting on the Tanjung Piai by-election which will see a six-corner fight, with the main fight seen to be between two candidates, namely the ruling coalition’s Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu)’s Karmaine Sardini and BN/MCA’s Datuk Seri Dr Wee Jeck Seng.
The other candidates are Parti Barisan Jemaah Islamiah (Berjasa)’s Badhrulhisham Abdul Aziz, Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia (Gerakan)’s Wendy Subramaniam, and independent candidates Ang Chuan Lock and Faridah Aryani Abd Ghaffar.
In the 14th general election, Bersatu’s Mohd Farid Mohd Rafik garnered 21,255 votes against MCA’s Wee who received 20,731 votes, winning by a 524-vote margin.
Mohd Farid passed away from a heart attack in September, triggering this by-election. Campaigning for the Tanjung Piai by-election began yesterday and polling will be held on Nov 16. — DayakDaily
