KEPALA BATAS - Perikatan Nasional (PN) Bertam candidate Khaliq Mehtab Mohd Ishaq has called the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition's component party, DAP, a "cruel party".
In his speech at Ceramah Kelompok PDM Permatang Bertam, Penang, Khaliq said that PN is currently in a "war zone" to replace the Penang state government, which was previously under the DAP administration.
"There is only a week of campaigning left to bury the cruel party, DAP.
"To abolish its cruel party, we need to win the upcoming state polls," Khaliq said.
Khaliq also revealed that he was being called a traitor after leaving PH and joining PN.
However, he denied the accusations, saying that he had never "jumped a party".
"When I first competed, I was a member of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), who was with PH at the time, and now I am still with Bersatu.
"So this issue will not directly affect the trust of the voters, and they are wise to judge based on my record for five years, not to mention the current wave of people.
"Even though I am not with PH or PN, my work is still done, and the trust and responsibility given to me are shouldered as best as possible.
"That means I have not betrayed the rakyat’s mandate," he added.
Also present were Beluran MP Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee, former Perlis Umno chief Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, and PN's Penaga candidate Yusni Mat Piah, along with hundreds of PN youth supporters.
The Election Commission (EC) has set Aug 12 as the polling day for the Penang state elections, along with the state elections in Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, Negeri Sembilan, and Selangor.