Ex-EC chief tells peeved BN supporters to boycott election

Former Election Commission chief Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman is seeking to turn the tables on the calls to boycott the 14th general election (GE14).

According to the Bersatu vice-president, disgruntled BN supporters who are afraid of speaking out against the leadership should boycott the election.

"I encourage these people not to go out and vote, their (BN's) supporters don't need to vote.

"Only those who support us should go out and vote," Rashid told a press conference in Putrajaya today.

Meanwhile, Pakatan Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who was also present, said the movement to boycott GE14 comprised only one percent of the electorate.

Such a move over his candidacy would be “shallow minded”, Mahathir said, and dismissed claims that he is the same as Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak. 

"I don't think I'm like Najib. I didn't steal money, start 1MDB and all that.

"So to say if I am made the prime minister, 'what's the difference, he is also a dictator', I think this is the way some shallow minded people see things.

"If we didn't need a change I wouldn't bother to be involved with this. I'm 92 years old, going to be 93, I don't really want to become prime minister (again)," he said.

Mahathir said he only took up the task because it was the consensus of Harapan.

He said the youth wings of all Harapan parties will be meeting with those considering boycotting the elections.

Bersatu Youth chief Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman said every vote counts in the next election, so one percent of voters can be a deciding factor.- Mkini