BELURAN: Threats against Beluran voters to gain support in the 15th General Election (GE) needs to be stopped, said candidate Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee.
Ronald, the Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidate for Beluran, was responding to the statement of Barisan Nasional (BN) Sabah Chairman Datuk Bung Moktar Radin that any leader in GRS and BN who want against the flow for supporting candidates of other parties should be removed.
This includes village heads, Village Development and Security Committees (JPKK) and government officials who clearly support opposing candidates other than BN and GRS.
“Bung has no right to force Beluran voters with threats to support or vote for his preferred candidate in this 15th GE.
“Bung Moktar’s act also undermines the parliamentary democratic system by restricting the right of voters to choose their representatives voluntarily without any coercion or threats.
“He (Bung Moktar) should practise a healthy campaign based on the law and not willingly violate the election law such as threats, coercion and so on.
“I am confident that the people of Beluran will reject and oppose the desperate dirty tactics and campaign being carried out by Bung Moktar simply to defend their candidate in the Beluran Parliament,” said Ronald.
Ronald, who is the Vice President of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) said this at the Together with Voters Program in Kampung Pinangkau Paitan.
He believed Beluran people would not be fooled and make their choice accurately in the 15th GE without following the guidance of outsiders because they have the right to choose their elected representatives.
In relation to Bung statement, Ronald said his party would lodge a report with police and the Election Commission (EC) because the statement was seen as a threat to Beluran voters.
Ronald, who is also the caretaker Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry, defended the Beluran parliamentary seat on the PN ticket.
The Beluran parliamentary seat saw a five-cornered contest with the other candidates being Rowiena Rasid from Parti Warisan (Warisan), Hausing Samsudin @ Sudin (Pejuang) and Felix Joseph Saang from the United Kinabalu Progressive Association (Upko) representing Pakatan Harapan.
PN contested in 170 parliamentary seats including the Beluran Parliament and 116 seats in the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) in this 15th GE.
* Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss.
* Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.