“It’s very strange of Ganabatirau to ask me to help out in his campaign by using the media to convey his message. He could have asked me personally.

“It suggests that he needs my endorsement to win given the recent unprecedented backlash that we have seen,” he told FMT, referring to the reaction from the electorate after DAP dropped him and named Ganabatirau as its candidate for the Klang parliamentary seat.

The Kota Alam Shah assemblyman was reported to have told Malaysiakini that he wanted Santiago to join him on walkabouts and to be one of his speakers at ceramahs when he campaigns.

Ganabatirau, who is a two-term Selangor executive councillor, also stressed that the issue of him being given the Klang seat was never a case of “seat grabbing”.

He said the fact that the constituents were speaking out for Santiago after being dropped showed that the latter really connected with the people.

“I really welcome him and hope he will come (campaign with me),” he said.

Ganabatirau added that his work as an assemblyman speaks for itself and would give him leverage on the ground. He also felt that the voters will ultimately vote for Pakatan Harapan (PH) as a party as they wanted Umno out.

Commenting on this, Santiago said it is very difficult to read ground sentiments as people are keeping their votes close to their chest.

“But I wish Ganabatirau well and again, I urge the people to vote in a PH government (in GE15).”

Santiago said he was overseas at the moment and has other travels scheduled, adding that he will have a private conversation with Ganabatirau if contacted.