Writing in the Umno Cheras Blog, Syed Ali Alhabshee said that this gave a clear impression the Opposition does not have an agenda that is in the best interests of the people.
Syed Ali, who is also Cheras Umno division chief, added that Umno will benefit in the upcoming by-elections in Sungai Besar in Selangor and Kuala Kangsar (Perak) with opposition parties – namely PAS, PKR and Parti Amanah Negara – all clamouring to put up their own candidates.
“The Opposition are merely ‘recycling’ certain issues in their bid to gain support from the people,” he said, urging voters in the two constituencies not to be fooled by this.
While he expressed his belief that Selangor Umno (led by Noh Omar) and Perak Umno (led by Menteri Besar Zambry Abdul Kadir) have their own strategies and methods to ensure Barisan Nasional’s (BN) victory in the upcoming June 18 by-elections, Syed Ali also reminded party leaders not to take the matter lightly.
“Don’t take it lightly, we have to retain Umno’s success in Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar, we have to unite in facing threats from the Opposition,” he said, adding that BN did not win big in the two seats during the last general election.
Syed Ali emphasised the need for strong support, without any sabotage from within Umno ranks, to counter threats from the Opposition, in the two by-elections.
With regard to BN’s candidates for the two seats, he said it was up to Umno president Najib Razak to decide as the latter would take into account the needs and interest of the locals in Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar.
The by-elections for the two parliamentary seats were triggered by the deaths of its incumbents, Noriah Kasnon and Wan Mohammad Khair-il Anuar Wan Ahmad, in a helicopter crash in Sebuyau, on May 5, while campaigning for the Sarawak election.
In the 2013 General Election, Barisan Nasional’s Noriah beat PAS’ Mohamed Salleh M Husin with a 399-vote majority.
In Kuala Kangsar, BN’s Wan Mohammad emerged the victor in a three-way contest against PAS’ Khalil Idham Lim Abdullah and independent Kamilia Ibrahim.
Wan Mohammad won by 1,082 votes, after garnering 14,218 votes against Khalil’s 13,136. Kamilia lost her deposit after receiving only 447 votes.