KUALA KUBU BARU: Bersatu deputy president Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu is of the view that federal government policies, such as the debate over vernacular schools in the country, should not be used as campaign tools.

He advised Perikatan Nasional candidates, leaders and all its election machinery not to be too eager to use issues related to particular policies to attack their opponents.

Even though it was PN that raised the issue, said Faizal, the coaltion could not change any policy unless it controlled Putrajaya.

Therefore, he wants the party machinery not to exaggerate issues related to policies to be used as campaign material for the Kuala Kubu Baharu state seat by-election.

"I believe we shouldn't overly stress matters that not only do not have a positive impact on voters but also on the country.

"Whatever issues arise, such as vernacular schools, involving federal government policies, we cannot do anything about them for now, so there is no need to exaggerate things.

"When we are in power at the federal level later on, perhaps we can refine matters related to these policies. For now, we can only give our views but ultimately cannot do anything, so it is pointless," he told Berita Harian.

Faizal said this in response to Pas information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari playing up the fact that Pakatan Harapan candidate for the by-election, Pang Sock Tao, studied in vernacular schools.

The Pasir Mas member of parliament had challenged Pang to declare her primary and secondary education background, as it was not stated in the PH candidate's profile poster.

Pang responded by sharing her Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) and Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination certificates on her Facebook account.

The result slip showed she scored four A+, three As and three A- in her SPM examination in 2010 when she was a student of SM Chung Hua Port Dickson in Negri Sembilan.

Fadhli then "apologised" for raising questions about Pang's education background and for "inadvertently" revealing that the DAP politician was educated in vernacular schools.

Fadhli's actions drew a rebuke from Bersatu associate wing chairman Chong Fat Full, who said the Pas leader should have avoided discrediting Pang's educational background.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/politics/2024/05/1045129/kkb-election-faizal-azumu-tells-pn-stop-using-vernacular-schools