KUBANG PASU: It would be unfair and unfortunate for the voters in Kubang Pasu should former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad decide to contest in the constituency under a Pakatan Harapan ticket.
Deputy Defence Minister Datuk Seri Johari Baharom said it would be an unfortunate event for the voters, especially Barisan Nasional (BN) supporters who had been loyal to the former Umno president throughout his three decades of service in Kubang Pasu constituency while in government.
Johari, who had succeeded Dr Mahathir as the Kubang Pasu MP in 2004 after the latter' retirement, said it would be unfair to the voters as their loyalty and support for him for 30 years would go to waste.
"It will be an unfortunate affair for the voters here who had been loyal to Dr Mahathir since he first won the constituency in 1974 until his retirement.
"It is heartbreaking for us to imagine that the leader whom we had supported for over 30 years would be returning to contest in Kubang Pasu under the Pakatan Harapan ticket.
"It is also sad for the nation's politics especially voters in Kubang Pasu should the leader they had supported through thick and thin for decade contes here again under an Opposition flag," he told reporters after opening the National Service Department's "Camp Warriors" online contest in Dataran Darulaman here today.
As such, Johari, who once served as Dr Mahathir's political secretary, urged his former boss to rethink his strategy, as the move would suggest that he is not appreciating the support rendered by the party members and election machinery which had been loyal to him during his time as the prime minister.
However, he added that it is entirely up to the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) chairman to contest wherever he wished as it is a democratic country.
Johari was responding to Dr Mahathir statement during the PPBM assembly last week that he may contest in the next general election in either Langkawi, Kubang Pasu or the Putrajaya seat.