DAP's intention to contest in Kelantan will not undermine BN's efforts to win back state

The intention by DAP to contest in Kelantan in the coming general election will not have any impact on efforts by Barisan Nasional (BN) to win back the state, State BN deputy chairman Datuk Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub said today.

He said DAP had the right to contest where ever it wanted, including in Kelantan, which had majority Malay voters, because it was allowed under the parliamentary democratic system.

"In the context of Kelantan, we remain steadfast in winning the confidence of the people of various races so that they will give their support to BN," he told reporters after opening a discourse on sustainability of national security and harmony at Pusat Transformasi Ilmu Bukit Tiu here today.

Ahmad Jazlan said this in response to a statement by Kelantan Pakatan Harapan deputy chairman Datuk Wan Abdul Rahim Wan Abdullah that DAP had requested to contest for several state seats in Kelantan in the 14th general election (GE14).

The BN machinery will continue to work hard in its preparation for the election and is confident that the people of all races in the state, including from the Chinese community, will give their support to BN, he said.

Meanwhile, in his speech at the event, Ahmad Jazlan, who is Deputy Rural and Regional Development Minister, said educationists should continue to give their support to the existing government to maintain harmony and peace in the country.

He said they should be sensitive to current issues and play their role by helping to clarify the issues that were aimed at slandering the government.

Meanwhile, in GUA MUSANG, the Gua Musang Member of Parlaiment Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah expressed confidence of BN returning to power in Kelantan in the GE14 if there are going to be three- cornered fights for the state seats.

He said the reason being that the Kelantan people were becoming aware of the weaknesses of the Pas-state government that it was not able to develop the state since coming to power in 1990.

"If there is a three-cornered fight between BN and the two opposition parties (PAS and Pakatan Harapan), it will give the best option for the people to decide on the party they want," he said when met after opening a gathering of Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) entrepreneurs here today.

On the possibility of PAS working with UMNO, Tengku Razaleigh said it was difficult to be realised because such a cooperation could not be accepted by the grassroots supporters.

-- BERNAMA