GUA MUSANG: Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, who spearheaded the Barisan Nasional charge in the just-concluded Galas by-election, said his strategy of moderation and non-hostility helped to create a peaceful campaign.

Ku Li, as he is fondly known, hoped the Barisan leadership would consider adopting the strategy at the next general election.

“Campaigning house to house and in moderation will ensure no untoward incident occurs during the campaign period.

“As proven in Galas, our strategy did not disrupt security and assisted in creating a peaceful campaign period,” he told reporters here on Thursday, adding that Barisan’s campaign was popular with the voters.

Tengku Razaleigh also called on the Federal Government to pay more attention to the plight of the orang asli community, who supported the Barisan convincingly.

He said there was a need for a “new political culture” in the country where negotiation and constructive engagement should replace the present confrontational politics and open mudslinging.

Kelantan Umno chief Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed and his deputy Datuk Dr Awang Adek Hussin agreed that Tengku Razaleigh’s Galas strategy should be adopted by the Barisan at the next general election.

“Low-profile campaigning or campaigning in moderation enabled the machinery to reach the people better.

“Such strategy can be used not only in Kelantan but the rest of the country, too,” he said.

Dr Awang Adek said: “We have a good momentum right now. We should continue to use this strategy for the next general election.”

Newly-elected assemblyman Abdul Aziz Yusoff said Tengku Razaleigh’s strategy was the decisive factor in Barisan’s win.

-THE STAR-