Vote for PH candidate, BN's Sivaraj tells Padang Serai voters

Barisan Nasional’s (BN) C Sivaraj has told voters who might still be confused about his status to vote for Pakatan Harapan (PH) in the Padang Serai election as he had decided to give way to the PH candidate.

Sivaraj said many voters, especially BN supporters, still wanted to vote for him in the parliamentary seat contest although his withdrawal was announced last Friday.

"Therefore, I call on electors to vote for the PH candidate although my name will still appear on the ballot papers. We have reached an understanding with PH, as requested by BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

"It is better to have a straight fight (with the Perikatan Nasional candidate) to increase our chances of winning," he told a press conference in Kulim yesterday.

Kedah BN chairman Jamil Khir Baharom had announced that BN was making way and pledging its support for PH candidate Mohamad Sofee Razak in the Padang Serai election on Dec 7.
 
According to Sivaraj, the BN machinery was actively going to every area to explain its decision to BN supporters and ask them to vote for the PH candidate.

Sivaraj also thanked PH secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail for saying he would be considered for a suitable role in the government.

"I did not ask (for a post) and was not offered one (before agreeing to withdraw). I did not set any conditions although I said earlier that it was not fair to make way for the PH candidate because I had been working the ground in Padang Serai longer than he had.

"I took a day to decide on my withdrawal because I do not want to split votes and benefit PN. I have to accept the fact that BN was the party that gave me the authorisation to contest," he added.

Apart from Sivaraj, the Pejuang candidate has also withdrawn from the six-cornered contest in Padang Serai.