Dr M: Futile to vote BN as it has no power to fulfil promises

SEMENYIH POLLS | The people in Semenyih will squander their votes if they support BN in the Semenyih by-election, said Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

According to him, this is because BN's manifesto will remain a mere promise, given that the coalition is no longer in power.

"The promises of the opposition parties will only remain a promise because they will not be realised as (BN is) no longer in power," he said at a ceramah attended by a 3,000-strong crowd in Semenyih last night.

Mahathir pointed to Harapan's experience, saying that the coalition and its predecessors had "not been able to do anything" while being the opposition, despite voicing out for the past 60 years. 

"(So), what is the purpose of voting for BN's candidate ?" he asked.

"This showed that it is futile if we vote for the BN candidate," he said.

"In fact, BN is dead. What is left is Umno, (which exists) in name only as the party has been destroyed with few members left. Many of (Umno's) members want to join Harapan and Bersatu," he added.

In comparison, he said, the election manifesto of Harapan candidate Muhammad Aiman Zainali can be fulfilled as he is backed by both the federal government and Selangor government.

"He (Aiman) is of the view that a hospital is needed in Semenyih and Berangan. After he wins, he can whisper in the ears of the minister, 'We need a hospital' and (the minister says) 'okay'," said Mahathir.

"(Finance Minister Lim) Guan Eng is here, he manages the (public) funds. If he declines to fork out money, we will knock (ketuk) him," he said.

Mahathir, however, did not pledge that Harapan would build a hospital if Aiman wins the Semenyih by-election.

Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad had expressed reservations about Aiman's proposal for the government to build a hospital in Semenyih, saying that another health clinic would be more appropriate.

In his manifesto, which was launched on Tuesday, Aiman also pledged to upgrade existing clinics, set up mobile clinics, protect the local ecosystem, and reduce crime rates in Semenyih.

Mahathir, who arrived in Semenyih two days before polling takes place, was greeted by excited supporters of various races and ages.

Supporters used their mobile phones as flashlights (above) after Mahathir said he loved to see light.

Also present were Guan Eng - who is also DAP secretary-general, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu, PKR deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali and Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin.

A total of 53,520 voters are eligible to cast their ballot on March 2, while 951 early voters had voted on Jan 28.

Aiman will be facing off against BN's Zakaria Hanafi, PSM's Nik Aziz Afiq Abdul and independent candidate Kuan Chee Heng. 

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