Zahid talks up Mahkota candidate's Chinese school background

BN chairperson Ahmad Zahid Hamidi wasted no time promoting the government’s candidate for the Mahkota by-election.

Talking up Kluang Umno Youth chief Syed Hussien Syed Abdullah, Zahid shared that Syed Hussien attended a Chinese vernacular school.

“He has a deep understanding of the culture, language and also mindset of the Chinese people,” he told reporters at Dewan Tunku Ibrahim Ismail in Kluang, Johor today where the nomination process is taking place.

A few days before the nomination, allied party MCA said Syed Hussien has a Chinese name, “Sai Fu Xing”, which literally means “lucky star”.

Syed Hussien, 40, will be facing Perikatan Nasional's Mohamad Haizan Jaafar, 61, in a straight fight on polling day, which is set for Sept 28.

The Mahkota by-election is being held following the death of its incumbent Sharifah Azizah Syed Zain, 63, on Aug 2, while she was receiving treatment at the Enche’ Besar Hajjah Khalsom Hospital.

The Election Commission confirmed that there are 66,318 eligible voters in the constituency, comprising 61,397 ordinary voters, 4,510 military personnel and spouses, 401 police, and 10 absentee voters living abroad.

In the previous state election, Sharifah won by 5,166 votes in a four-cornered fight, defeating candidates from Pakatan Harapan, PN, and Warisan.

About 35 percent of Mahkota voters are Chinese, 54 percent are Malay, and eight percent are Indian.

Halal cert disputes

The by-election is being held amid fears that the dispute over the halal certification issue between Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh and DAP’s Seputeh MP Teresa Kok could turn Chinese voters away from supporting the Umno candidate.

Three days ago, Kok issued a letter of demand to Akmal over his remarks about her regarding the halal certification issue and sought RM25 million in damages.

Earlier this year, Akmal had also led a boycott of the KK Mart chain over socks bearing the word “Allah”. He then called for the government to conduct a detailed evaluation of the vernacular education system, further establishing himself as a polarising figure.

Yesterday, DAP vice-chairperson Nga Kor Ming said the latest issue would not affect the cooperation between Umno and DAP.

"The important thing is that we will support the government’s candidate and the disagreement will be resolved by the leadership.

"Our focus is to secure a win for the government’s candidate, it doesn't matter which party the candidate is from, he represents the government, DAP and all the party machinery will work tirelessly to help," he said.

Umno-DAP ties unaffected over halal cert issue, Nga says as polls loom

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