State polls: KJ predicts status quo maintained

GEMAS: Former Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin has predicted a status quo in tomorrow’s (Aug 12) six state elections.

However, he said there could be a change if there was a huge turnout of Malay voters.

“As of now, my prediction is 3-3.

“However, this will change if there is a wave of Malay voters tomorrow,” he said when met while campaigning for Perikatan Nasional’s candidate for the Gemas seat Ridzuan Ahmad.

Khairy, who was former Umno Youth chief, expects some 85% of Malays to cast their votes.

“I think the turnout will be high. So if this happens and if the wave heads one particular way, it will surely change (my prediction),” he said.

In the last election, Pakatan Harapan won in Negri Sembilan, Selangor and Penang while Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu went to Perikatan.

He said if there was a wave of change, there would be surprises in seats considered to be safe.

Citing Gemas as an example, Khairy said Ridzuan stood a good chance of winning.

Asked on claims by some Negri Sembilan Pakatan and Barisan Nasional leaders that they may make a clean sweep in the state winning all 36 seats, Khairy said that was based on a best case scenario.

“This is based on the fact that every vote which went to Pakatan and Barisan the last time would again go to them this time.

“But my take is that only one vote may go their way this time around because there is surely going to be an effect of Barisan working with Pakatan in the polls,” he said, adding that this was difficult to gauge.

The former Rembau MP said he was in Negri Sembilan today (Aug 11) to campaign for some of his old friends.

He first stopped in Klawang to campaign for Perikatan’s Danni Rais.

Danni, the son of former Dewan Negara president Tan Sri Rais Yatim, is making his political debut in the state election and vying for the Klawang seat.

He is up against incumbent Datuk Bakri Sawir, of Amanah, who also happens to be his first cousin.

Khairy’s next stop was Sg Lui where he went to campaign for Barisan’s incumbent Mohd Razi Mohd Ali.

Mohd Razi will be challenged by Perikatan’s Mohd Nordin Hasim in a straight fight.

He then arrived here to campaign for Perikatan’s Gemas candidate Ridzuan who

will be up against Barisan’s incumbent Datuk Abd Razak Ab Said.

“I am only campaigning for old friends and not a particular party.

“Ridzuan for example, is a good friend who was in Umno with me previously but is now contesting under the Perikatan banner,” he said, adding that he believed Ridzuan would make a good assemblyman if elected.

Khairy said the majority of the non-Malays would surely vote for the Pakatan-Barisan pact.

“We know that at least 90% of the Chinese votes will go to the Pakatan-Barisan pact although they never voted for Barisan previously,” he said.

Asked where he would be voting, Khairy said he would be doing so in Kota.

“But I can’t tell you whom I will be voting for as this is supposed to be confidential,” he added.