Umno hints it may field its candidate in Cameron Highlands

CAMERON POLLS | Umno has hinted that the party will field its candidate to represent BN in the Cameron Highlands by-election on Jan 26.

Acting Umno president Mohamad Hasan said the BN candidate to be announced tomorrow will have the blessings of component parties MCA and MIC.

"Umno has agreed to ensure that the candidate who will represent BN in the by-election can strengthen the party, and bring it a victory.

"We have to remember that things have changed. Last time, when the party had a name, any candidate fielded could win. Now the situation is different... we need a candidate who can bring victory to the party.

"That's why, as I said earlier, the matter has to be brought to the Umno supreme council. MCA and MIC have agreed," he said after chairing the supreme council meeting in Kuala Lumpur tonight.

'A benchmark'

Mohamad added that the by-election will be a "benchmark" to gauge BN's strength and popularity.

"The Cameron Highlands by-election is very important. It will be a benchmark of how effective we are, and the extent to which BN is in the people's hearts. 

"It is a seat we must defend," he stressed.

It has been widely speculated that Umno will field former senior police officer Ramli Mohd Noor (photo) against Pakatan Harapan candidate M Manogaran.

When asked about his possible candidacy earlier today, Ramli said it is the acting Umno president's prerogative to decide who should stand in the parliamentary seat. 

Ramli, the highest ranking Orang Asli police officer in the country's history, is of the Semai tribe, who make up the bulk of the 22 percent of Orang Asli voters in Cameron Highlands. 

Malaysiakini reported yesterday that MIC decided to pull out from contesting in its traditional seat and allow the BN leadership to decide on the candidate.

In the last general election, MIC vice-president C Sivarraajh beat out four contenders in Cameron Highlands, edging past Manogaran by a margin of just 597 votes.

Last November, the Election Court nullified the results due to the commission of corrupt practices and ruled that a by-election be held. - Mkini

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