“Only BN is parochial; PH parties have no qualms to move out of comfort zone”

[superadmin]

SWITCHING constituencies is a healthy practice that should be welcomed in order to curb the widespread of localism and provincialism among political parties while at the same time, make Malaysia a more united country.

In defending such practice, veteran journalist and blogger Datuk A. Kadir Jasin said political parties such as DAP, PKR, PAS and Amanah have leveraged the concept quite widely and successfully for a long time.

“Even UMNO practiced it in the early years of independence. Candidates from outside the district and even the state contested and won,” penned the former Bersatu supreme council member in his latest Facebook post.

“For example the late (Tan Sri) Fatimah Hashim who hailed from Muar (Johor) won the Jitra-Kuala Nerang seat in Kedah during the 1959 and 1964 general elections, and was later appointed as Social Welfare Minister.”

But alas, year after year, Kadir observed that UMNO has become more and more parochial (regional) to the point that even leaders from adjacent districts are not accepted.

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