The Umno president said the entire machinery of the component parties within the unity government was working tirelessly to ensure that voters cast their ballots.

“Yesterday, I spent the entire day in the Mahkota constituency and this matter was brought to my attention by the Johor menteri besar (Onn Hafiz Ghazi).

“This (circulation of anonymous letters) has no influence and does not affect the Chinese voters in the Mahkota constituency,” said Zahid, who is also the deputy prime minister, as well as rural and regional development minister.

Zahid said this after chairing the national TVET council meeting and engagement session with 66 GLCs and private companies, together with 12 TVET-related ministries here today.

Zahid said various efforts are being made together with component parties to convince voters, especially the Chinese community, to come out and vote.

This was to avoid a repeat of the low voter turnout seen in the Sungai Bakap state by-election, he added.

Zahid said some voters live outside the Mahkota constituency, in areas such as Mengkibol or outside Kluang. In addition, many voters are also working in other parts of Johor and Singapore.

On Sept 21, Kluang MP Wong Shu Qi, from DAP, claimed that poison-pen letters were placed in mailboxes, asking Chinese voters to reject the Umno candidate, Syed Hussien Syed Abdullah.

She said the letters, written in Chinese, were titled: “An appeal to voters in the Mahkota by-election: We hope to see fair treatment for all people in Johor.”