Non-Malay voters no longer a DAP ‘fixed deposit’, says Ismail Sabri

LEDANG: Non-Malay voters can no longer be regarded as a DAP “fixed deposit”, former prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said today, pointing to DAP’s drubbing in the Sabah state election last year, when all its eight candidates were defeated.

Ismail said a similar trend could emerge in Johor, given the support that Barisan Nasional is currently receiving from non-Malay voters.

Ismail, a former Umno vice-president, said the long-held perception that non-Malay voters would not support BN was no longer accurate.

“The Sabah results clearly show that non-Malay voters are no longer DAP’s fixed deposit. Most non-Malay voters backed candidates other than DAP.” he told FMT while campaigning for Nadhirah Afiqah Abdull Rahim, the BN candidate in Serom.

Sabah DAP lost all its eight contests In the Sabah election last year, while BN won six of its 45 contests. There are 73 seats in the Sabah state assembly.

Ismail said the Sabah results showed that non-Malay voters were now more open to supporting any political party. “Non-Malay voters are free to vote for whichever party they choose, and there is no reason they should not vote for BN in this election,” he said.

He urged non-Malay voters in Johor to back BN, saying the coalition was well placed to form the next state government. “Don’t waste your vote. Vote for the party that will win — BN,” he said.