MUAR, Sept 4 — Barisan Nasional (BN) strategic communications director Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek has urged voters in the Simpang Jeram and Pulai by-elections to ensure victory for the Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate and strengthen the existing administration.

He said that Johor, which had progressed under BN before, was now seen to be getting stronger and stronger under the PH-BN partnership.

"I believe that if our candidate from the Amanah party from PH with the support of BN wins, God willing Johor will become even stronger after this. Let the people of Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah have their way. This (Johor) is the frontline state to enter Malaysia and for investors to come.

"This state is the gateway to job opportunities, the gateway to bringing in foreign capital. If Johor does well, our currency will be stronger, if the currency is strong, goods will be cheaper, the people will be more prosperous and we want to show that our politics is stable, it’s no longer a mess,” he said.

He was speaking at the Madani Unity Mega Ceramah held in conjunction with the Simpang Jeram by-election in Sungai Abong here last night, which was also attended by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the PH candidate for the seat, Nazri Abdul Rahman.

Ahmad Shabery also urged Johoreans not to be ’swayed’ by the efforts of the opposition party which supposedly wanted to ‘conquer’ Johor, even though basic issues within the state it ruled had not been resolved.

"Don’t allow a party with a strong base in Kelantan to ‘Kelantanise’ the state of Johor, Johor must be an example of a peaceful society, all races unite to develop Johor,” he said. — Bernama