GE15: Well-meaning friends put up ‘creative’ billboards, says Peja
IPOH: Tambun parliamentary seat incumbent Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu, popularly known as Peja, says he did not pay for the billboards seen around the constituency.
“But I know the person behind the billboards and told him that he can’t put any of our names or political slogans on them,” he said during a walkabout at Taman Perpaduan in Ulu Kinta on Tuesday (Nov 8).
A billboard with the slogan “Never lost in Tambun” and another pointing towards a northern exit has been seen as a reference to PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is contesting the seat.
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Ahmad Faizal said he welcomed how some friends wanted to help with his campaign and appreciated the creativity behind it.
“It’s good to have a little bit of humour in campaigning. Politics should not be too stressful. I feel we should go this way. It’s a good thing for Malaysia,” he added.
Ahmad Faizal said Anwar’s camp has been doing the same by putting up his own billboards along the highway.
“In the end, we are both trying to do the same thing which is to get as much attention and votes as possible,” he said.
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However, unlike Anwar, Ahmad Faizal claimed that his billboard did not come from his party’s expenses. Ahmad Faizal is contesting for Bersatu under the Perikatan Nasional banner.
“They have billboards on the highway which are very expensive. I can’t afford that,” he said, while acknowledging comments from social media users who called him out over the “Never lost in Tambun” billboard being placed over a road strewn with potholes.
“When I heard about that, I asked some contractor friends to help fix the road. People are complaining ‘You buat billboard, tapi jalan rosak…’ (You put up a billboard, but the road is in ruins). But that’s not (by) me so when people start talking, I have to take action,” he said.
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During his walkabout, he was also heard telling voters to be aware of a possible secret pact between Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Anwar.
“Why are people not seeing this? Why did they (Anwar and Zahid) both get very upset after Tun Mahathir revealed that they had closed-door meetings (about) working together,” he said, adding that he felt supporters on both sides were being lied to.
Pejuang chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had claimed on Sunday (Nov 6) that Anwar and Ahmad Zahid had held talks of cooperating if Pakatan wins GE15.
Both Anwar and Ahmad Zahid have denied the allegations.