‘THIS IS JUST LIKE ONG TEE KEAT VS IDRIS HARUN’ – NAJIB, NO LONGER ‘SWOLLEN EYED’ FROM 1MDB TRIAL – CONFIDENT UMNO MEMBERS WILL VOTE FOR MCA’S JECK SENG – ‘WE ARE NOT RACIST OR NARROW-MINDED’

 Datuk Seri Najib Razak (seated) taking a selfie with supporters during a meet and greet session held at Serkat in Pontian, Johor on Nov 1.

PONTIAN – The acceptance of Datuk Seri Dr Wee Jeck Seng as Barisan Nasional’s candidate for the Tanjung Piai by-election is getting more positive among local Umno members, says Datuk Seri Najib Razak.The former Barisan chairman said it was a very encouraging sign considering that Umno had wanted to contest the seat.

“They (Umno) have accepted the decision by Barisan’s leadership. The decision to field a candidate from MCA will guarantee victory for us and show Barisan is a party that practises openness.

“We are not racist or narrow-minded but fight for all rakyat, ” he said before attending a closed-door meeting with Umno branch leaders here yesterday.

Najib likens the situation to the 1989 Ampang Jaya by-election when Barisan fielded MCA’s Tan Sri Ong Tee Keat to face former Selangor mentri besar Datuk Harun Idris who was standing on a Semangat 46 ticket.

“He (Ong) was going against a legend in the political scene and it was a critical moment for Umno at the time as we had lost the Johor Baru parliamentary seat to Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad who was with Semangat 46 then.

“But MCA was able to deliver victory for us through the willpower of Barisan supporters and members who put Barisan above all else, ” he said.

Najib said it was this spirit that would see Barisan win back the seat.

– ANN