Malaysia: Pakatan’s Manogaran to focus on Cameron Highlands’ local matters

• Pakatan Harapan kicked off its election campaign with a short session to introduce its candidate M. Manogaran to Sg Koyan.
• PH choosing to hold a small ceramah in Jelai on 12 Jan 19 over the mega affair it customarily stages after nomination is proof of how much the Malay and Orang Asli votes matter in the Cameron Highlands election race.
• Supported by less than a handful of local elected reps in DAP Syefura Othman (Ketari-Pahang), Edry Faisal Eddy Yusof (Dusun Tua-Selangor) and Hasnul Zulkarnain Ab Munaim (Titi Serong-Perak), Manogaran spoke to local campaigners about what this by-election meant.
• “This by-election is due to loss of integrity. So, return integrity to our parliament by voting for PH,” said the Selangor assemblyman.
• In May 18, Manogaran lost both voting stations in the Sg Koyan area which houses three Felda settlements. BN and PAS swept 87% of the 2,888 votes, taking 1,290 and 1,233 votes, respectively to leave PH with only 329.
• “We are weak here,” said Manogaran. “Hence, I want to endear myself to the local community here.
• “This is a race between PH, BN and two independents. I don’t see the racial factor. Whether they are Chinese or Indians in Tanah Rata or Malays and Orang Asli in Jelai, I will have to represent all of them if I’m elected.”
• M. Manogaran also said matters concerning flood mitigation, landslides, temporary occupation licences, foreign workers’ permit registrations, cleanliness, and local development should be prioritised over national issues.
• “The farmers have asked me to do away with the yearly renewals (for temporary occupation licences). “As someone who has operated a farm for more than 40 years, I feel that the licences are not appropriate. We will take note of this and suggest to the government to convert the licences to leases.
• Finally, the DAP by-election candidate said that top Pakatan Harapan leaders had ensured that village chiefs (tok batin) in Cameron Highlands will receive their salaries from the Pakatan Harapan government even though they hold posts in Umno.
• This was a response to an incident where Pakatan Harapan senator Bob Manolan had allegedly threatened village chiefs to support the government in the coming by-election or risk losing their jobs.
• However, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail admitted that chances of Pakatan Harapan winning the coming Cameron Highlands parliamentary by-election on 26 Jan are slim as Barisan Nasional is capitalising on local sentiments.
• Manogaran’s task is made much harder with PAS urging its supporters to back the BN candidate. PAS took nearly 3,600 votes In the last election.
• When asked to comment on photographs of a woman wearing a PH t-shirt seen giving out money in Cameron Highlands, the deputy prime minister urged reporters to check the authenticity of the photographs and the claims.
• Wan Azizah responded the failure of a government stems from its inability to identify and adopt the right position with the people. She said the spread of false information directly led to doubts among the people, increasing racial sentiments, and causing racial and religious disharmony.
• Manogaran said that a victory for PH in Cameron Highlands would be very significant, as it would mark a starting point for the coalition to wrestle control of the state from Barisan Nasional.

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