SEREMBAN: The Negri Sembilan election is a democratic contest over the state’s future and not a stage for playing up racial or religious sentiment, says Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil.
The government spokesman said contesting parties should not be dragging in the royal institution or spreading slander to win support of voters.
Instead, he said all parties should be competing on policy, track record and solutions to the people’s problems.
“Unfortunately, we still see attempts to play up racial sentiment and spread lies to divert attention from the real issue, which is the cost of living,” he said yesterday.
“When a party runs out of ideas, it is willing to sell hate and division. But if a party is confident of its track record, it makes that offer based on facts and achievements.”
Voters, Fahmi said, wanted answers on how more high-paying jobs would be created, how young people could afford own homes, how the cost of living would be eased and how economic growth could reach everyone.
“Incitement does not bring in new investments,” he said, adding that Pakatan Harapan chose to offer hope rather than hate.
The Communications Minister also called on all parties to respect election laws and keep the remainder of the campaign mature and fact-based.
“Negri Sembilan is a peaceful state. Do not damage its unity for narrow political interests.
“On Aug 1, the voters will make a big choice – between politics that unites and politics that divides us, between facts and slander, between leadership that works and politics that manufactures hate,” he said.
Asked whether the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission had summoned Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor over his recent remarks on race, Fahmi said he had yet to receive the latest information on the matter.
Recently, Muhammad Sanusi, who is Kedah Mentri Besar and Perikatan Nasional election director, alleged during a ceramah that Tanah Melayu was the “homeland” for the Malays, unlike other ethnic groups.
On whether new laws were needed to deal with hate speech on the campaign trail, Fahmi said existing laws were adequate.
Pakatan is contesting all 36 seats.
