The phenomenon of artistes joining opposition parties will not take away the support of entertainers and the younger generation for the BN, Umno and BN Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin says.

"Traditionally, they have supported BN. This recent trend will not diminish support for the BN.

"Two or three artistes joining the opposition will not have the impact of pulling votes from the BN,” Khairy said.

NONE "Probably this is a big thing for PAS. In the past, artistes did not join the party, so when they do join, they are treated like celebrities.”

Singer Aishah, actor Hairie Othman ( at right, with PAS leader Nik Aziz Nik Mat ), lyricist and TV personality Bob Lokman and actress Abby Abadi have joined PAS, while Dayangku Intan has joined PKR.

They have been actively been going here and there, Khairy said, in giving talks to garner support and some are expected to be put up as candidates in the coming election.

'Celebrities with BN for a long time'

Khairy said artistes and celebrities have been with the BN for a long time. Maybe this was an issue now because one or two have joined the opposition.

“Before this. there was none. Prior to this, was there an artiste who joined PAS? When you have two or three people joining PAS, it becomes a big issue.

“For us, it is common and normal as artistes and entertainers from the younger generation have always been with us. It is not strange,” he said.

For PAS, Khairy said, maybe they have not seen an artiste or celebrity and when one suddenly joins the party, he or she becomes “riuh sekampung” (becomes very big).

“We welcome the participation of artistes in BN,” Khairy added at the launch of the BN Youth Cyber Team at the Umno headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today, at which several artistes were present.

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