JOHOR BAHRU - Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidate for Pulai parliamentary seat Zulkifli Jaafar did not see the internal conflicts and divisions within the Pulai Umno as the main advantage in the upcoming by-election in the area.
He stated that what the PN machinery needs to do during this 10-day campaign period is approach voters in all 40 polling districts (PDM) within the Kempas and Pulai State Legislative Assembly (DUN) areas.
"We do not take advantage of the current situation happening within the Pulai Umno Division. If we entertain or rely on that situation, we will become weak and deluded.
"There is no other way to win except through hard work. What's happening within the Pulai Umno can be seen as a bonus, nothing more than that," he said when met by reporters while campaigning in Kempas on Wednesday.
Last week, a total of 11 banners saying ‘Umno Pulai Rejects Pakatan Harapan Candidate' were hung around the district and subsequently went viral on social media.
It is understood that branch leaders within the Pulai Division rejected the Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate for the Pulai parliament, Suhaizan Kait.
Following this, on Saturday, Pulai Umno chief Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed will meet with branch leaders in an effort to persuade those who don't support Suhaizan in the Pulai Parliamentary by-election.
Expanding on his point, Zulkifli also expressed that he does not want to be complacent with claims that a 'green wave' will assist him in winning the by-election.
Regarding the statement by Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan, claiming that the banners were hung by the opposing party to sow discord between BN and PH, he refuted the accusation.
"Why would we hang those banners? It's better if we hang banners and flags of PN. Logically, if we were to do it, we should hang them all over Johor Bahru," he said.
Regarding the response from the Chinese community, the Tampoi-born candidate mentioned that during his campaign so far, he and his team have been well received. However, predicting their inclination is difficult.