Best for Dr M to focus on 'amal ibadat', says Zahid after KKB 'prediction'

 

KKB BY-ELECTION | As the official Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election campaign starts, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has one piece of advice for former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

"…it is best for him to focus on his amal ibadat (religious obligations)," said Zahid when asked for comments on Mahathir's prediction that DAP will retain the seat due to a split in Malay votes.

Mahathir, who founded and left two Malay-based parties since his departure from Umno, was quoted by Free Malaysia Today as saying that the DAP will likely retain the Selangor state seat due to the division among Malay voters, while the Chinese voters remain united.

Mahathir noted that in the past, Malays were united under Umno, which allowed the party and BN to obtain a two-thirds majority in Parliament.

"We (Malays) have become divided, and from there (Umno) emerged more Malay-based parties, including Putra," he said during a Hari Raya function yesterday hosted by Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia.

The Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election campaign begins today with a four-way contest between Pakatan Harapan’s Pang Sock Tao from DAP, Perikatan Nasional’s Khairul Azhari Saut from Bersatu, Parti Rakyat Malaysia’s Hafizah Zainuddin and independent candidate Nyau Ke Xin.

The seat was left vacant by the death of its incumbent, Lee Kee Hiong, last month.

Separately, Zahid also called for politicians, including those from BN, to stop using old videos to campaign as the political reality in the country has changed.

On Friday, MCA Youth chief Ling Tian Soon shared an old video of Pang deriding BN on social media. While he tagged Umno supreme council member Lokman Noor Adam, Ling reiterated MCA's position not to campaign for the DAP candidate.

"There used to be a video of an Islamic party leader asking to support DAP. That can be used too (isn’t it?)

"(Therefore) in my opinion, just close the old book and open a new one," said Zahid, who is also BN chairperson.

Umno open to support Anwar

Meanwhile, Zahid reaffirmed that all parties in government are open to supporting Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister for a second term.

"We have an ongoing commitment and will commit to support this (Anwar as prime minister)," said the deputy prime minister.

He added that the next 16th general election will determine the relationship of all 18 parties in the unity government, which shares the same objective of defending the country's political stability.

"GE16 will demonstrate how political stability and unity of heart and mind among these 18 parties can be defended.

"In my opinion, the 152 MPs who are showing more than a two-thirds majority must be maintained," he said.

Last month, PRK secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said in an episode of the “Keluar Sekejap” podcast that the party's dream is to have Anwar serve a second term as prime minister. - Mkini