Opposition wrested BN strongholds in the past, Bersatu man tells KJ

August 7, 2024

Opposition wrested BN strongholds in the past, Bersatu man tells KJ

PETALING JAYA: A Bersatu leader has dismissed the notion that the Orang Asli would continue to back Barisan Nasional in the Nenggiri by-election, noting that the opposition had wrested the seat in the last state election.

Kelantan Bersatu chairman Kamaruddin Nor also said Perikatan Nasional had snatched the Gua Musang parliamentary seat from BN in the last general election.

These two seats were previously BN strongholds. BN had held the Nenggiri seat since 2004 before losing to PN last year, while Umno stalwart Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah was a 12-term MP for Gua Musang until he was ousted in the 2022 general election.

“Isn’t this proof enough that the Orang Asli, especially their youth, want change?” he told FMT.

Last night, former Umno Youth leader Khairy Jamaluddin claimed that the influence of Tengku Razaleigh and Ramli Nor, the country’s first Orang Asli MP, would help BN win in the Aug 17 polls.

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Khairy said Tengku Razaleigh had a huge influence on voters while BN’s chances would also be boosted by Ramli, who would be able to secure the Orang Asli community’s votes.

The Orang Asli constitute 13% of the 20,245 eligible voters in Nenggiri.

Kamaruddin, however, said the Orang Asli youths were no longer influenced by the older generation when it came to choosing their representative.

“They are independent and can think for themselves.”

The Nenggiri by-election was called when the Kelantan assembly speaker declared the seat vacant after Bersatu said the assemblyman, Azizi Abu Naim, had ceased to be a party member.