Zahid may not know the people's struggles' - Muhyiddin

GUA MUSANG - Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi may not know the struggles of the people after suggesting that national issues raised in the Nenggiri by-election campaign will not influence voters, says Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

The Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman said that he personally heard the concerns of the people about targeted diesel subsidy and the rising cost of goods during his campaign in Nenggiri.

“I’ve been here for a few days and directly heard the people expressing their concern and difficulties with the challenges of daily life and the rising cost of living.

“The cost of living is a national issue, which includes the skyrocketing prices of goods, and the removal of diesel subsidies has impacted many sectors,” he said when met during the Nenggiri by-election campaign in Sungai Terah.

On Thursday, Zahid was reported saying that voters in the Nenggiri by-election were not swayed by the national issues raised by the opposition during the campaign.

He added that the people in the constituency were smart and that the issues being played up have not stuck in their minds.

Muhyiddin stressed that he was unsure of the actual situation Zahid had observed.

“When Zahid says such things, I am uncertain whether he is aware of what the voters here are feeling. This is my view,” he said.

Meanwhile, he said that other national issues affecting the people were related to job opportunities and investments, which were tied to government policies that Zahid did not mention.

“Maybe he didn’t mention that, but the people are facing problems, and these issues are related to the federal government's policies,” he said.

He pointed out that the people did not see effective actions being taken by the government to address their problems.

As a result, he claimed, the people also perceived the government as weak and failing.

“So, to me, this indicates that the people believe the central government's policies are not helping,” he added.