By-election: Do not touch on 3R issue while campaigning, says Azalina
ZULHISHAM ISAHAK
KOTA TINGGI - All political parties are reminded not to touch on the issue of religion, race and royal institution (3R) during the by-election campaigns of the Pulai Parliament and the Simpang Jeram State Legislative Assembly which will start on Saturday.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said all parties must carry out clean and responsible campaigns.
"The 3R element should not be used for the by-election in Johor. I hope that the political parties contesting in the state (do not touch on the 3R sentiment) and the people in Johor are more sensible in thinking that the 3R sentiment should not be used.
"The people watch and evaluate. We must prioritise wanting representatives who can bring success to the area in the next election," she said.
The Pengerang MP said this after launching the Semarak Malaysia Merdeka ceremony at the Pengerang Parliamentary level at Dewan Kejora, Bandar Penawar today.
Azalina, who is also Umno information chief also reminded that 3R sentiments cannot be touched on, on any social media platform and those who did so will be subjected to action in accordance with the election law.
On the statement by Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin that the wave of people's support for the coalition was now being felt in the state's by-election, she said that was just the former prime minister's opinion.
"That was just his view, there is indeed democracy in politics, but I want to remind all parties about the Election Offences Act. We cannot take advantage of the loopholes in the act," she said.
When asked whether Umno can still be categorised as a party fighting for the Malays and Muslims, she said the party was still the platform for the Malay struggle.
"That is the goal and meaning of Umno as a Malay and Islamic party, but the difference is Umno is not extreme, we are a political party that is only based on political alliances on unity from the existence of BN until today," she said.
