MUAR - People's support for Perikatan Nasional (PN) is expected to peak in the by-elections of the Pulai Parliament and the Simpang Jeram State Legislative Assembly, this time.
Pas Deputy President Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the scenario would repeat the peak of people's support for PN as happened during the recent state elections in six states involving Kedah, Penang, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Kelantan and Terengganu recently.
"I see that the wave in Johor has not changed because the state election in the state was held early and was not the same as the 15th General Election (GE15) last year.
"That's why it's important for this by-election to see the momentum of support across the country (the six states that went through the state elections recently).
"The Pulai and Simpang Jeram by-elections will also be a measure of the extent of Johor people's support for PN," he said at a press conference in conjunction with the machinery launching ceremony and PN Candidate Declaration for the Pulai and Simpang Jeram by-elections at Markaz Tarbiyah Pas Kawasan Bakri here, on Wednesday.
Also present were Pas Secretary-General Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan, PN Election Director-General Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, Johor PN Chairman Datuk Dr Sahruddin Jamal and PN candidate for Simpang Jeram State Assembly Dr Mohd Mazri Yahya.
Meanwhile, Tuan Ibrahim said PN is aiming for a total of 70 per cent of Johor citizens to vote for the Pulai and Simpang Jeram by-elections this time.
He said that the target expectancy was made based on the situation during the state elections in six states recently, where he saw a turnout increase.
"If we look at the situation in the state elections in the last six states, the percentage of people who went out to vote was relatively high.
"All at once, this shows that the people want a wave of change and we are targeting the people of Johor to vote in the by-election in the two areas concerned (Pulai, Simpang Jeram)," he said.