MELAKA: Independent candidate Datuk Norhizam Hassan Baktee has hit out against Pakatan Harapan for hyping up the visit of former Melaka Yang-di Pertua Negeri Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob to several constituencies during the final hours of the campaign.
Norhizam, who was re-contesting in Pengkalan Batu, said it looked like Pakatan needed a boost from an ex-Umno top gun to win support from voters.
"It seems like a desperate attempt to gain the attention of voters by publicising Tun’s (Mohd Khalil) presence to the media.
"Tun is a respected figure and I felt it’s unfair for him to be used as a campaign tool, especially producing videos of him praising a Pakatan leader and widely circulating the content to locals, just before the state elections," he said in an interview here on Thursday (Nov 18).
Norhizam said Mohd Khalil is a well-regarded leader and contributed immensely to the development of the state when he was the Yang-di Pertua Negeri from 2004 to 2020.
"I am afraid Tun (Mohd Kahlil) was given an empty promise and I hope no one makes use of an 83-year-old leader at this point of time," he said.
Norhizam said he would use his own ability to win the election without inviting any former party leader in a bid to muster support for him.
Mohd Khalil has been spotted making rounds with Pakatan candidates in Pengkalan Batu, Asahan, Duyong, Telok Mas and other constituencies since Nov 15.
He was former mentri besar of Pahang from 1986 to 1999 and information minister before becoming the Yang-di Pertua Negeri in 2004.
Separately, Norhizam took a swipe at Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan for urging local voters not to cast their ballots for independent candidates during the Nov 20 polls in a viral WhatsApp video.
"Not all Barisan Nasional assemblymen had performed effectively and I am sure voters would reject them in this state election.
"Independent candidates are also capable and I am sure a few would win in the polls," he added.