TEMERLOH: Perikatan Nasional (PN) has deployed its "pemantau" (observers) to monitor any misconduct, including the use of government assets, in the Mahkota by-election campaigning in Johor.
Pas deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the team would be on the ground to conduct "enforcement" if there was any misconduct involving the unity government candidate and parties assisting in the campaign.
"When there are viral videos on social media involving corruption practises during the campaign, it is not easy to identify the witnesses. Utilising government assets and going against the law during the campaign should never happen and I hope the Mahkota by-election will serve as a model (zero misconduct)....we will see.
"Both PN and Pas have sent observers to monitor during campaign till polling day, and this is following the issues (misconduct), which allegedly occurred during the previous Nenggiri and Pelangai by-elections," he said on the sidelines of the 70th Pas muktamar at the Al-Makmur complex in Kerdau here today.
The Mahkota state by-election on Sept 28 will see a straight fight between Barisan Nasional candidate Syed Hussein Syed Abdullah and PN's Mohammad Haizan Jaafar.
Tuan Ibrahim also denied rumours that Pas held its general assembly in Pahang this weekend to boycott the Mahkota by-election, saying its vice-president Datuk Mohd Amar Abdullah was present at the nomination centre today.
"The Pas leadership has informed PN (about the general assembly), including its chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yasin. Johor Pas delegates are not present in Kerdau for the general assembly as they are with other PN component parties in Mahkota," he said.
On PN's chances in Mahkota, Tuan Ibrahim said there was a high chance to walk away as winners as the current scenario was different compared with the Johor election in 2022.
"The Johor and Melaka state elections registered a low voter turnout and the people's wave (supporting PN) never existed. The people's wave only began after the 15th General Election, so we can expect some surprises in Mahkota," he said.
Tuan Ibrahim said since Mahkota was a mixed constituency with more than 40 per cent Chinese and Indian voters, PN would seek the assistance of Gerakan, Pas non-Muslim Supporters' Wing (DHPP) and the Malaysian Indian People Party to help campaign.