Umno vice-president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said BN had promised to look after all communities and not just one.
“We will look after the Malays, Chinese, Indians and others. BN is a party for all and the record shows BN has been just to all races,” he said today after nominations were accepted for the by-election.
“We hope the voters in Sungai Besar can see that. It is not through emotions but from its performance experienced by the people here, especially Barisan Nasional MPs,” he told reporters.
The BN is in a three-way tie with candidates from PAS and Amanah to fill the vacancy created by the death of the sitting MP, the late Noriah Kasnon, in a helicopter crash last month.
Sungai Besar’s 42,836 electorate is comprised of 67.18 per cent Malay voters, 30.68 per cent Chinese, and 2 per cent Indian and others.
Ahmad Zahid praised party supporters for maintaining peace and harmony during the nomination process this morning.
“The era of political maturity has started. I hope it is the same in Kuala Kangsar, too. For the first time we see peace prevailing among the three parties. For sure, the candidates are also in the same situation.
“The leadership of all three parties met peacefully. It is not only about politics, but we ate together,” he said.
In addition, Zahid said BN would not intervene in internal problems between Pakatan Harapan (PH) and PAS.
“The problem is between them, so we do not want to interfere in their problems. We are for the people. We do not want to entertain such differences. We hope the people, have trust in BN,” he said.
Earlier, after the nominations today, laughter was heard among PAS and BN leaders mingling together. PAS leaders Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man and Mustafa Ali were seen rubbing shoulders with Ahmad Zahid, Umno’s election director Noh Omar and party secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor.
PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali had a chat with leaders of PAS and Umno.
In the by-election, Budiman Mohd Zohdi (BN) faces Azhar Abdul Shukur (Amanah) and Dr. Abdul Rani Osman (PAS).
The PAS candidate in the 2013 general election, Mohamed Salleh M Husin lost by 399 votes to BN’s Noriah Kasnon.