Apologise, Tiong tells Johor Umno Youth chief

SHAH ALAM - Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) demands Johor Umno Youth Chief Noor Azleen Ambros to issue an apology for his claims that the voter turnout among the Chinese community in the Mahkota by-election was only between 34 per cent and 36 per cent.

Its president Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing said the allegation clearly denied the facts and was based on baseless statistics.

"As a youth leader, Noor Azleen's failure to fact-check is very disappointing and regrettable. This action not only affects him personally but also tarnishes his party's image.

"If Noor Azleen is truly responsible for his actions, he should apologise to the Chinese community for the statement he made," he said in a Facebook post.

Last Saturday’s Mahkota by-election saw Barisan Nasional (BN) successfully defending the seat with a larger majority of 20,648 votes after its candidate Syed Hussien Syed Abdullah defeated Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) candidate Mohamad Haizan Jaafar.

Several Umno leaders, including Noor Azleen, later questioned DAP's contribution in the by-election, stating that only 34 per cent to 36 per cent of Chinese voters in the constituency had cast their votes.

Tiong who is also the Tourism, Arts, and Culture (MOTAC) Minister claimed that the actual voter turnout among the Chinese community in the Mahkota by-election was 53.6 per cent, while the Malay voter turnout was 56.6 per cent.

“Is he unable to think rationally? If the Chinese voter turnout was so low, how did Syed Hussien manage to secure such a large majority? Noor Azleen’s reckless statement not only alienated the Chinese community but also portrayed him as unprofessional and immature,” he alleged.

Tiong added that Noor Azleen appeared unappreciative of the contribution of Chinese voters in the by-election, as there was no expression of gratitude, but instead, the community was blamed, leading to great disappointment among the Chinese.

He said the unity government placed significant hope and attention on the by-election, with all coalition party leaders putting aside their differences and working together to secure victory.

"This includes the significant and active involvement of Chinese organisations and civil society groups that joined us during the campaign to ensure BN’s candidate gained support from all communities, thus boosting his chances of winning.

“I would also like to advise Noor Azleen to stop embarrassing himself. Since BN has won this by-election with support from various groups, he should appreciate the trust that has been placed in them,” he said.

Tiong added Noor Azleen should ensure that the newly elected Mahkota State Assemblyman promptly serves the people and works towards better development in Mahkota.