Not fair for PKR to use BN, Umno as campaign material
(Bernama) — The move by Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and its allies to use Barisan Nasional (BN) and Umno as campaign material for the Penanti by-election is a clear indicator that they have no specific plans for development and community programmes in the area.
Penang Umno Liaison Committee deputy chairman, Datuk Zainal Abidin Osman said, it was not fair that PKR and other parties were filling up their ceramah sessions by condemning BN and Umno because they were not contesting.
PKR should use the campaign period to explain their plans to develop and improve the lives of residents there in the next two or three years, he said when met by reporters before the launching of a economic stimulus convention with Caely, here today.
“The contest in Penanti involves PKR and independent candidates, BN and Umno are not involved because we hold to our principle that there is no provision in the constitution to hold the by-election.
“It is not fair that they make us their campaign material. They should instead talk about the policies and principles they have and what role they will play as state assemblyman, because if they criticise Umno and BN we cannot reply as we are not contesting,” he said.
He said this when asked to comment on several ceramahs given by Opposition leaders in Penanti who use BN and Umno, the Perak Menteri Besar issue and sometimes cynical humour on the death of a Mongolian woman as campaign material.
Zainal Abidin said BN and Umno could not apply for a permit to hold a clarification session for any slander made by PKR and its coalition.
He said PKR was formed based on emotions, and for it to continue getting support the party must always evoke the emotions of its supporters to let the momentum last until the 13th General Election.
Based on the situation, he said, the opposition coalition were arranging a series of by-elections to provoke emotions.
“They know that their stories which are based on feelings of revenge, vulgar words and raising personal issues will be forgotten if not brought up regularly. They do this so the feelings of supporters for the party do not fizzle off,” he said.
