Negri polls: Non-Malays need not fear marginalisation if BN wins, says Tok Mat

SEREMBAN: Non-Malays should not fear being marginalised if Barisan Nasional wins the Aug 1 Negri Sembilan polls as the coalition will remain the primary decision-maker despite its political cooperation with Perikatan Nasional, says Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.

The state Barisan chief said the non-Malays should not be taken in by claims by its rivals that they would be sidelined in the event Barisan and Perikatan is able to form the state government.

“Barisan is like the biggest shareholder in a company as we will be contesting 25 seats while PAS will contest five, Wawasan four and two more by other party candidates.

“The majority shareholder is still Barisan and non-Malays have no reason to be unduly worried,” he said when met after a football tournament in Taman Badar Ekar in Rantau.

Mohamad said Barisan’s rivals were instilling fear in non-Malays that they should not support the “Malay unit” concept promoted by Barisan-Perikatan.

Mohamad said of the 25 seats the coalition was contesting, seven were also given to MCA and two to the MIC.

Two of the 11 seats given to Perikatan were also being contested by non-Muslim candidates.

“There is nothing to be concerned about as our friends have also openly said the mentri besar post will go to Barisan,” he said.

Asked on the response from the voters following Barisan and Perikatan’s decision to cooperate in the polls so far, Mohamad said it was much better than when they worked with Pakatan Harapan in the 2023 polls.

“I must say it has been better and I hope this is translated into votes on Aug 1.

“The election machinery of our parties have been working well, meeting as many voters as possible for support,” he said, adding that Barisan was confident of a victory in the state election.

Mohamad said its decision to work with Perikatan was more of a tactical understanding so that they could get more support from the Malay voters.

“Malay voters also do not want to see Malay parties fighting one another so it will be easier for them to decide.

“If Umno were to go head on with PAS for example, it will split the Malay votes and this will only benefit the third party,” he said, adding that this was the advantage of forming a political cooperation.

To a statement by caretaker Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun that Negri Sembilan’s economic performance under Pakatan in terms of investment had surpassed the target set by Barisan in its manifesto for the state election, Mohamad said Barisan wants a consistent growth for the state.

Aminuddin had said Barisan’s target of RM30bil in investments over five years in its manifesto did not reflect the state’s current economic performance as the state had already achieved the target.

He said the state government received RM19bil in investments last year, while nearly RM13bil was achieved in the first half of this year.

This, he said, had exceeded Barisan’s target over five years.

Mohamad said Negri Sembilan managed to record its highest investment last year as the federal government was the one who brought in the investment for a data centre in Springhill.

“We want to be consistent when it comes to growth. That is the basis of our manifesto,” he said.

The total long-term investment and construction value for the data center campus and related infrastructure is estimated to bring in some RM10bil in investments.