Ismail Sabri: One vote for Harapan is one vote for DAP

Caretaker prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob is turning the tables on attacks that one vote for BN is one vote for Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Speaking at a BN get-together in Ayer Hitam in the Batu Pahat district of Johor today, Ismail Sabri said: "One vote for Pakatan Harapan is a vote for DAP.

"Even though Harapan's (Ayer Hitam candidate) is a Malay, behind him is DAP.

"One vote for Harapan is one vote for DAP. Don't fall for their trap. To stop DAP's rise we must defeat Harapan candidates everywhere."

Harapan is fielding DAP central committee member Sheikh Omar Bagharib Ali to face the Ayer Hitam incumbent MCA president Wee Ka Siong.

Ismail Sabri said all must remember that when Harapan was in government, even though the prime minister - Dr Mahathir Mohamad - was from Bersatu, DAP was the one in power.

Umno has often used DAP as a bogeyman to scare Malay voters, claiming their rights and privileges would be eroded should the latter come to power.

Ismail Sabri - who is Umno vice-president - is, on paper, BN's prime minister candidate.

However, he has had to daily stave off attacks that his party boss Zahid will usurp the prime minister position should BN come to power.

Meanwhile, Perikatan Nasional and Gerakan Tanah Air claim that Zahid is in cahoots with Harapan chief Anwar Ibrahim to form a unity government.

Zahid and Anwar have denied this.

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