All political parties and campaign machinery involved in the Negeri Sembilan state election have been reminded not to exploit issues related to adat, or traditional customs, for political gains.
Barisan Nasional (BN) deputy chairman Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said adat holds a special position in Negeri Sembilan society and should be respected by all parties without being mixed with political interests.
He warned that using adat-related matters as campaign material could create confusion among the public and further complicate the situation during the election period.
“I have explained, reminded and requested that throughout this campaign period, we should not touch on adat issues.
“Adat must be respected because it has its own position. We should not mix adat with politics, especially during campaigning,” he said.
Mohamad was speaking after the nomination process for four state seats under the Rembau parliamentary constituency, namely Rantau, Paroi, Chembong and Kota.
He said all nomination forms submitted for the four constituencies were accepted without any rejection.
The Rantau and Chembong seats will see straight fights, while Paroi and Kota will have three-cornered contests.
Mohamad urged BN machinery and supporters to carry out their campaign efforts in an organised manner while focusing on presenting the party’s manifesto, policies and plans to voters.
He said a structured campaign approach would help ensure the party’s message reaches the people clearly ahead of polling day.
Meanwhile, Mohamad said the cooperation between parties involved does not mean a merger but is aimed at helping each other maximise voter support in contested areas.
He added that similar cooperation had been carried out in Johor and expressed hope that the same approach could be applied in Negeri Sembilan.
Mohamad, who is defending the Rantau seat, said his focus would be on ensuring BN’s machinery operates effectively in the constituency while assisting other candidates.
He is also scheduled to be in Manila from Monday to Thursday to represent Malaysia at several ASEAN meetings, which he said are important amid current global geopolitical uncertainties.
