JOHOR BARU, Aug 26 — Senator Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed has denied that grassroots Umno members are unhappy with having to support the Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate Suhaizan Kayat for the Pulai parliamentary by-election that kicked off today.
Banners printed with the “Kami cawangan-cawangan Umno Pulai menolak calon Pakatan Harapan!!” (We the Pulai Umno branches reject the Pakatan Harapan candidate!!) had been up by persons unknown in at least six areas neighbourhoods in the constituency, including in Taman Perling, ahead of nomination this morning.
Nur Jazlan, who is Pulai Ummo chief, believes they are the work of mischief makers outside his party.
“This is a dirty tactic being played by certain parties trying to confuse voters and also sabotaging the Pulai Umno division following our support for the PH candidate in the by-election.
“As the division chief, I give my assurance to PH and also the candidate that we are fully behind the unity coalition candidate to defend the Pulai parliamentary seat,”he told reporters at Dewan Jubli Intan Sultan Ibrahim here.
Nur Jazlan was among several Umno leaders who turned up at the nomination centre to show their support of Suhaizan’s candidacy as part of the PH-BN unity alliance.
He said that the banners have since been removed following complaints from Pulai Umno members.
But not before pictures of the banners were posted online and circulated on social media yesterday, causing consternation to PH supporters.
Nur Jazlan, who is also an Umno supreme council member, said that if the message displayed on the banners were true, he would know as he is the Pulai Umno chief.
“If they are really Pulai Umno members, then they should just come forward.
“Putting up such banners and uploading the pictures on social media just shows that those responsible have ill intentions,” he said.
