Pakatan Harapan has turned Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Ahmad Maslan into its “punching bag” in its campaign to win over Johor’s Malay heartland.

This took place as Bersatu President Muhyiddin Yassin led a high-tea session with local voters in Amanah’s Ayer Baloi headquarters in Pontian, together with other Harapan leaders.

The Harapan leaders took aim at the GST, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, and the 1MDB scandal, but it was their mockery of Ahmad that was most well-received by the audience.

Ahmad (photo), who is also the Pontian MP, once served as the deputy finance minister. In that capacity, he was ridiculed for praising GST, and urging the people to take up a second job to cope with the rising cost of living.

Pontian Bersatu chairperson Zulkefly Tasrep took the first shot during his nine-minute welcoming speech, most of which was spent mocking Ahmad.

“Ladies and gentlemen, now that you are in Ayer Baloi, you are in a constituency that is famous amongst Malaysians even those in Sabah and Sarawak.

“We have a such a popular elected representative and BN deputy minister who often makes statements,” he said, drawing laughter from the crowd, before adding, “I didn’t mention his name.

“Sometimes when our elected representative makes statements, our Pontian children working outstation dare not admit that they come from Pontian because they are embarrassed by him.”

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He said Pontian folk do not welcome Ahmad and gave two examples to back his claim.

“When Ahmad officiated a bridge, only four people attended. Although people don’t like him, he still ordered for a tent to be set up.

“When he officiated a surau in Jelutong Darat, there were about 30 people there; 25 were his own people, and only five were (local) villagers,” Zulkefly (photo) said, before urging all parties to work harder to rally people to the opposition’s side.

Taking his cue from Zulkefly, Johor Amanah chief Aminolhuda Hassan said the government’s denials are just as unbelievable as Ahmad’s claim that GST would cause the prices of goods to drop.

“The whole world has been talking about 1MDB, including Indonesia recently, and it was reported openly on TV and in the Tempo magazine. But Malaysia says all is well, that these are all lies…

 “This is just like the local MP claiming that GST will bring down the cost of goods, right?” he said, as the crowd mockingly shouted back in agreement.

Muhyiddin too drew laughter from the crowd as he took aim at the Pontian MP, as well as at Umno’s defence of Najib’s policies.

Other speakers at the high-tea session included Johor PKR vice chief Hassan Karim and DAP’s Pekan Nenas assemblyperson Yeo Tung Siong. About 150 people attended the event, most of whom were members of Harapan component parties.

In the 13th general election, Ahmad managed to defend his Pontian seat with a 13,727-vote majority, despite inroads made by the opposition elsewhere.

BN also won the Benut and Pulai Sebatang state constituencies with 6,572 and 3,412-seat majorities respectively.