'Ungrateful' Yuhaizad demands proof

PAS’ Merlimau candidate Yuhaizad Abdullah has issued an open dare to deputy BN head Muhyiddin Yassin and Umno after being accused of ingratitude yesterday.

He wants both to prove that Umno owns the government quarters where he resides with his wife, who is a teacher.

"I challenge Umno and him (Muhyiddin), to prove that the (quarters) were built by Umno,” he told a joint press conference this morning at  DAP's election operations centre near Merlimau town.
 
If this is proven, he is prepared to move out of the quarters by tonight. Otherwise, he will continue to occupy the unit with his wife.

Yuhaizad (left) pointed out that the quarters were built, and maintained, with public money.
 
He refused to respond to Muhyiddin’s remark that the government would take action against his family.
 
Muhyiddin, also the deputy premier, had expressed dissatisfaction that Yuhaizad and his family are occupying the government quarters.

Instead of being “grateful”, Yuhaizad has chosen to contest the Merlimau by-election on a PAS ticket, added Muhyiddin (right).

Also at the press conference were PAS supreme council Mohd Anuar Tahir and Kubang Rotan assemblyman Mohd Nasir Mustafa.

Mohd Anuar said Muhyiddin’s comment was unbecoming, especially since he is the government’s second most-powerful person.

"We are all Malaysians, don't marginalise us, shame on (Muhyiddin)," he said before Yuhaizad stopped him, saying that they would not respond any more to someone whose remarks showed that he 'is unqualified' to be deputy premier.

PAS agrees with 'suqiu'

Yuhaizad also responded to the 'Malacca Merlimau by-election suqiu (demands)' submitted to him by the 106 Chinese organisations in the state.

In an obvious bid to win over the Chinese, who make up about 20 percent of the Merlimau voters, he said PAS agreed in principle with the demand for fair treatment of vernacular schools as this was consistent with the party’s constitution and Islamic teaching.

This may, however, backfire in PAS' efforts to gain Malay votes as BN has used Umno’s rejection of an earlier suqiu by Chinese organisations to prove that it is a defender of Malay rights.

Nevertheless, Yuhaizad said the reaction from voters over the past four days of campaigning had made him believe that the voters were “crying out for change”.

"I now see the 'tsunami' is moving closer," he said, adding that the voters have expressed unhappiness with cronyism within the government.
 
Asked about a report in state-owned newsletter Melaka Hari Ini that he had lied about his membership in the Belia 4B movement, he said that it was up to the branch in Kampung Chinchin to clarify, as he was once its treasurer.

On Sunday, Yuhaizad and his family had been forced to invite the media to their home to rebut claims that he was contesting without the blessings of his family, many of whom are civil servants.

Merlimau wil go to the polls on Sunday.