AMK calls Rafizi 'hypocritical' over Melaka polls bid, says it splits PH votes

KUALA LUMPUR: Angkatan Muda Keadilan (AMK) has continued to criticise the intention of the Kancil party, led by Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli, to take part in the Melaka state election expected to be held next month.

AMK exco member Dzul Hilmi Zainol said that in order to bring down Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the Kancil party was willing to "help" UMNO split Pakatan Harapan (PH) votes, even though Rafizi himself had previously condemned UMNO.

"What is clear is that the Kancil party's decision to declare its intention to contest in the Melaka state election will only give an advantage to PH's main opponents, particularly UMNO and its allies, through a split in votes.

"Ironically, the individual who was previously so vocal in criticising UMNO and Pas is now willing to take a step that directly benefits them," he said in a statement. (Quotes translated from Malay.)

Dzul Hilmi said the public had the right to judge for themselves whether the struggle was genuinely about bringing change or merely driven by political vengeance against Anwar.

AMK is of the view that in the country's electoral system, every vote carries a significant effect. He said if the real aim was to see the reform agenda continue, splitting votes would only open the door for PH's political enemies to return to power.

"That is why we call on the people, especially voters who may feel dissatisfied with PH, to consider carefully.

"Voting for the Kancil party will not only fail to form a government, it could also become the factor that hands victory to the very side they themselves have long claimed to be the enemy of the struggle," he said.

Earlier, Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) College of Law, Government and International Studies lecturer Assoc Prof Dr Mohamad Faisol Keling said that after losing all 15 state seats it contested in the Johor state election, with lost deposits, the party was expected to meet the same fate and be "embarrassed" a second time in the coming Melaka polls.

Mohamad Faisol said this was due to the high level of rejection among Malay voters of Rafizi's performance as a former minister, as well as a renewed rise in Chinese voter support for PH after Pas forged cooperation with BN. – UTUSAN