Bernama reported him as saying such perceptions stem from a lack of exposure and direct interaction with the local community, especially in rural areas.

“This is a question I’m often asked. I believe much of it arises from situations where people do not personally know the Malay leaders in DAP.

“As the saying goes, you can’t love what you don’t know.

“At the same time, Perak has DAP state vice-chairman Abdul Aziz Bari, so I think DAP is not unfamiliar to the people of Perak,” he told reporters in Tapah today.

Together with him on the campaign trail for Ayer Kuning today was DAP assistant national publicity secretary Young Syefura Othman.

Syahredzan said DAP remains committed to supporting Barisan Nasional candidate Yusri Bakir, with the campaign’s focus on ensuring continuity of service and safeguarding development and welfare in Ayer Kuning.

He said DAP had been assigned to assist in 15 polling districts, with the main priority being efforts to increase voter turnout.

The Ayer Kuning by-election will see a three-cornered fight between Yusri, Perikatan Nasional candidate Abd Muhaimin Malek and KS Bawani of Parti Sosialis Malaysia.

The Election Commission has set polling for April 26, with early voting on April 22.