KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 14 ― The battlefield of GE14 will be in rural Malaysia and in diehard Malay constituencies, PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali said today.
In remarks published today in the Chinese language newspaper Nanyang Siang Pau, Azmin said Pakatan Harapan (PH) was confident of retaining urban votes in places like Petaling Jaya and Subang.
“Pakatan Harapan’s battlefield is not in Petaling Jaya or Subang. We are confident, whether it’s PKR or DAP, we can win these seats.
“Our real battlefield and challenge will be in rural and Malay-diehard areas like Felda, Sabah, Sarawak, Johor, Perak and Pahang,” Azmin was quoted as saying.
The Selangor Mentri Besar claimed Malays, who were already feeling unsafe and disappointed with Umno, would want to see a change in federal administration, but had to be convinced theior rights and interests would be protected.
“Like Selangor, earlier it was an Umno stronghold, but PH which was earlier known as Pakatan Rakyat managed to convince them that their (Malays) rights can be protected, and in return we got their support,” he said.
Azmin admitted that it would be a struggle to penetrate these rural areas, but said the struggle will not be as difficult as perceived if PH was able to convince voters that it was a better alternative.
“Every general election Umno will say the plight of the Malays will be ‘finished’ without them.
“But if PH can enter these areas and explain that their rights under Selangor PH will be protected… then it should not be problem,” he said.
Azmin said Pakatan’s track record in administering Selangor for two terms showed that the rights of the Malays, as well as the non-Malays, would not be neglected.
