Sivarraajh urges BN supporters to vote Harapan in Padang Serai

BN’s C Sivarraajh has called on voters who might still be confused about his candidature to vote for Pakatan Harapan in the Padang Serai election as he decided to give way to the Harapan candidate.

He said many voters, especially BN supporters, still wanted to vote for him in the parliamentary seat contest although his withdrawal was announced last Friday.

“Therefore, I call on electors to vote for the Harapan candidate, although my name will still appear on the ballot papers. We have reached an understanding with Harapan, as requested by BN chairperson Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

“It is better to have a straight fight (with the Perikatan Nasional candidate) to increase our chances of winning,” Sivarraajh (above) told a press conference in Kulim, Kedah, yesterday.

Kedah BN chairperson Jamil Khir Baharom announced that BN was making way and pledging its support for Harapan’s candidate Sofee Razak in the Padang Serai election tomorrow (Dec 7).

According to Sivarraajh, the BN election machinery was actively going to every area to explain its decision to BN supporters and ask them to vote for the Harapan candidate.

He also thanked Harapan secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail for saying he would be considered for a suitable role in the government.

“I did not ask (for a post) and was not offered (before agreeing to withdraw). I did not set any conditions although I said earlier it was not fair to make way for the Harapan candidate because I had been working the ground in Padang Serai longer than him.

“I took a day to decide on my withdrawal because I do not want to split the votes and benefit Perikatan Nasional. I have to accept the fact that BN is the party that gave me the authorisation to contest,” he added.

Apart from Sivarraajh, the Pejuang candidate Hamzah Abd Rahman has also been reported to have withdrawn from the six-cornered contest in Padang Serai.

The election for Padang Serai was delayed following the death of candidate M Karuppaiya on Dec 16, days before the 15th general election.

- Bernama

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