By Mohd Farhan Darwis
SUNGAI BULOH, Sept 1 – Minister Datuk Seri Noh Omar today said that PKR’s nationwide electoral roadshow, Jelajah Merdeka Rakyat, does not pose a threat to the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition.
The Selangor BN deputy chairman (picture) said that the federal opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR) will not be able to hide its lies from the people despite it using the US presidential-style campaign method by using a customised double-decker to hit the road in a bid to woo Malay voters ahead of the 13th general elections due soon.
“That’s their way... we have our own ways. With their way, they want to change everything.
“But I am confident the people can judge, (whether) they want to go on a plane or a boat, the people will still know the lies they have made, promises that cannot be fulfilled. Because of that, they are not senang,” Noh told reporters today.
Noh also scoffed at the opposition party’s fury at having their bus damaged on its first leg of the nationwide roadshow, alleging that it was just an attempt to draw attention to their campaign.
“This is their way. Their own people splash paint, they blame Umno. This is their way of politics, they rule for just four years, (already) they don’t respect all.
“They have started to lose power, and because of that they try to sing (their) old songs again,” Noh said.
The pre-dawn attack took place at about 4.20am while the bus was parked outside the Siti Khatijah market in PAS-ruled Kota Baru, Kelantan.
Unknown assailants pelted the bus with stones, which resulted in the front windscreen being cracked on the driver’s side. The assailants also splashed red paint against the windscreen, said PKR deputy president Azmin Ali.
Azmin did not blame anyone for the attack but demanded the Home Ministry and the police to take full responsibility for the incident.
PKR and its political partners, DAP and PAS, have been pressing the ministry to ramp up crime fighting efforts instead of wasting resources on spying on citizens amid the public’s increasing fears in feeling unsafe in their homes and on the streets.
“The culture of thugs and threats has become the practice and main weapon of [our] enemies ... to block the advance of Keadilan and Pakatan Rakyat (PR),” the Gombak MP said, referring to the opposition bloc the party formed with allies PAS and DAP after their unprecedented sweep of 82 federal seats in Election 2008.
“I am confident that police investigations will not produce any stern action against the criminals involved.”
Azmin has said the PKR pre-election tour will go on as planned even after the tour bus’ windscreen was splashed with paint and damaged with stones.
PKR had kicked off its tour yesterday morning, which will see the party’s top leaders entering the rural Malay heartland in four states that have long been regarded as the stronghold of its political foe Umno, the grand old Malay party of BN.
The entourage includes PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and her husband, Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.