Pelangai by-election: Don’t ask your children to return if they don’t vote for BN was a joke – Wan Rosdy

BENTONG - Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail said he was only joking when he urged Pahangites living in other states not to return to vote in the Pelangai by-election if they did not vote for the Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate.

Instead, he emphasised that he wanted those who lived in other states to return and support BN, which he said could bring development to the area.

“It was just a joke. It means we hope they come back and support us but if they don’t vote for BN there’s no need to return part was just a joke.

“Someone was sleepy earlier (during the speech), so I made a little joke,” he said after the ‘Sembang Santai’ programme with BN supporters in Felda Chemomoi here on Wednesday.

Previously in his speech, the Umno Vice President advised BN supporters in the Pelangai constituency to advise their children who do not reside in the area not to return to vote if they did not vote for BN.

He stressed that it was better for voters who reside in Pelangai to choose their own representatives.

“Our children who are outside, if they are not with us, there is no need to ask them to come back.

“Let them stay in Kuala Lumpur. Let us manage our hometown,” he had said.

When asked if there were any concerns about the support of external voters, he rejected such claims.

The Pelangai State Assembly by-election needed to be held after the seat was declared vacant following the death of its BN representative Datuk Seri Johari Harun, who was involved in a light aircraft accident in Elmina, Shah Alam, Selangor, on Aug 17.

BN fielded a local candidate Datuk Amizar Abu Adam, while Perikatan Nasional (PN) named former teacher and coalition candidate from the 15th General Election (GE15), Kasim Samat, 62.

Another independent candidate, Haslihelmy DM Zulhasli would also contest in the by-election.