Not Taking Bait To Cross Over My Best Decision Says Salahuddin

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Salahuddin Ayub takes an ‘up close and personal’ approach during his walkabouts.PULAI: Pulai candidate Salahuddin Ayub says he can look voters in the eye today because he refused a lucrative offer from Muhyiddin Yassin during the Sheraton Move that caused the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government to fall.
He said the Bersatu president, who went on to form the Perikatan Nasional government in 2020, together with some of his other friends lured him with a ministerial post but he flatly refused it.
“If I had jumped then, could I stand here so confidently and face the voters? In the Johor state elections in March, I won the Simpang Jeram seat with a majority of 2,399 votes despite the strong performance of my challengers from Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional.
“My former PH colleague Steven Choong, who left PKR and stood under Parti Bangsa Malaysia in Puteri Wangsa, lost his deposit. It shows people do not like representatives who break their promises,” he told FMT.
Salahuddin, a former minister in the PH Cabinet, said he won the state seat despite a low turnout of 53%, and felt he should sail through in Pulai if the turnout reached about 71%.
In the 2018 general election, Salahuddin won Pulai with a thumping majority of 28,924, defeating Nur Jazlan Mohamed (BN-Umno), Mohammad Mazri Yahya (PAS) and Yap Keng Tak (independent).
Pulai is a mixed seat with Malay voters making up 45%, Chinese 40%, Indians 12% and others 3%.
The Amanah deputy president said although he would not consider himself the underdog, he would also not project himself as the favourite as his main rival Nur Jazlan was a strong and credible candidate.
Salahuddin Ayub joining a resident for a cup of coffee while listening to his views.He said the racial mix of the constituency was similar to that in the Simpang Jeram state seat and hence he was confident he could make it here but with a much-reduced majority. “Even a win by one vote is still a win.”
Battle between good friends who are both half-Chinese
Salahuddin described Nur Jazlan as a very nice person and a good friend and that they have been campaigning decently without hitting each other below the belt. He said his rival’s family record, where Nur Jazlan’s late father was a seven-term MP in Pulai, also made the BN candidate a strong contender.
“It’s interesting because we are not only good friends but both our mothers are Chinese. The seat is also a fairly mixed seat. I cannot be complacent or overconfident as Nur Jazlan is a tough nut to crack.”
Most importantly, Salahuddin said, the election was not between him and Nur Jazlan but one which would determine the future of the next few generations as the nation shifted into a different gear.
“We are just two simple human beings battling for our parties. For PH, a vote for Pulai and other seats can help the coalition win this election and make Anwar Ibrahim the next prime minister.
“So, it’s important for parents to tell their children that this election is crucial for the future generations. During the Johor state election, the turnout of the new voters was far from satisfactory. I hope it will improve this time,” he added.
A moderate Muslim
Salahuddin said Amanah would continue being a moderate Muslim party as this was good for the future of the nation, and that was the reason why he and some others left PAS because its president Abdul Hadi Awang was taking it in the wrong direction.
“That was the turning point. We also saw Hadi becoming too friendly with Umno and we did not agree,” he said.
Asked how he and Amanah were handling Umno and PAS demonising key PH ally DAP in the campaign for the Chinese votes, he said they were not focusing on this as they had bigger issues although they were still haunted by the propaganda.
“This is only bugging the hardcore supporters of PAS and they will not accept the truth and our explanation even if the sky falls. So we focus on the new voters and show them the claims that the DAP is controlling us are all lies,” he said. - FMT

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