Khairy Jamaluddin told supporters today that a vote for him is for him, and that he supports Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob as Barisan Nasional’s (BN) pick for prime minister.
“A vote for KJ is a vote for KJ in Sungai Buloh. It is a vote for BN, which picked Ismail Sabri as our candidate for prime minister,” said the caretaker health minister, referring to his initials.
“There should not be any confusion. Our pick for prime minister is Ismail Sabri, not (Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad) Zahid (Hamidi),” said Khairy when met outside the nomination centre at Dewan Kenanga, Petaling Land and District Office in Shah Alam, Selangor.
Khairy, who is BN’s candidate for the Sungai Buloh parliamentary seat in Malaysia’s 15th General Election, will face six opponents in the Pakatan Harapan stronghold.
The others contesting in Sungai Buloh are Datuk R. Ramanan (Pakatan Harapan), Mohd Ghazali Md Hamin (Perikatan Nasional), Mohd Akmal Mohd Yusof (Gerakan Tanah Air), Ahmad Jufliz Faiza (Parti Rakyat Malaysia) and independents Syed Abdul Razak Syed Long Alsagoff, and Nurhaslinda Basri.
Before Khairy’s nomination was confirmed by returning officer Mohd Jusni Hashim, incumbent MP, R. Sivarasa, claimed that a vote for Khairy was a vote for the under-fire Ahmad Zahid.
Ahmad Zahid faces 47 court charges, including for alleged criminal breach of trust amounting to RM31 million belonging to charitable foundation Yayasan Akalbudi, which the former deputy prime minister leads.
Sivarasa, dropped from defending his seat due to issues with his vocal cords for the past three months, said that although he was not contesting, he came to the nomination centre to support Ramanan.
“I want to tell the voters in Sungai Buloh that if they vote for Khairy, it would mean a vote for Ahmad Zahid,” said Sivarasa.
“Let us not give this seat to them. I am here to support Ramanan, whom I believe has what it takes to keep the seat for Pakatan Harapan.”
Khairy, who previously contested in Rembau, Negeri Sembilan, said he did not fear coming to Sungai Buloh and welcomed the challenge of taking on Ramanan and converting the 26,634 voters who voted for Pakatan Harapan in the last election.
“It is a tough fight, but I am up for the challenge. I want to serve the people of Sungai Buloh,” said Khairy.
“I want to introduce myself to the people. My manifesto is nearly ready. I will reveal it next week. It will be comprehensive and covers what I want to do for Sungai Buloh and Malaysia,” said Khairy, who won the Rembau seat in the last three general elections.
Ramanan, formerly a MIC treasurer, said he was confident of beating Khairy and the other five candidates.
“I am confident of winning this seat. I agree with Khairy that he is the underdog on the ground, but when it comes to social media, I am the underdog,” said Ramanan.
“Our machinery is ready. Both our assemblymen are here supporting me to ensure our success.
“I will reveal my manifesto tomorrow, but the main question is, whom do we want to be prime minister, (Datuk Seri) Anwar (Ibrahim), Ahmad Zahid or Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin?
“That is important. We must ensure victory here to get at least 112 seats to help Anwar become prime minister,” he added.
