'BN parties must help govt candidate in KKB polls'

 

BN component parties are required to help the government candidate in the Kuala Kubu Baharu state by-election, said BN deputy chairperson Mohamad Hasan.

He said this is because BN respects that the incumbent party will be given priority to field the candidate in a by-election.

“We don’t know who they want to field, we don’t know who the candidate is because we have only met once, and DAP hasn’t decided on the candidate.

“We should help because people have helped us, so we should help. There is no question of not wanting to help or not, that’s not proper.

“We are not joining forces, we are helping as partners in the unity government,” he told reporters at an Aidilfitri open house in Rembau, Negeri Sembilan, which was also attended by MCA president Wee Ka Siong today.

The Rembau MP said this while commenting on announcements by MCA and MIC that they will not campaign in the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election if the government candidate is not from BN.

BN deputy chairperson Mohamad Hasan (second left) shaking hands with MCA president Wee Ka Siong

Mohamad, who is also the Umno deputy president, said all parties in the government have helped BN candidates in the previous Pelangai by-election.

“Now it is DAP’s turn as the incumbent, our understanding is that when there is a death, that party is given priority (for the candidate). This is not a general election where we can exchange seats.

“For the general election, we have not discussed whether we want to be together or to go alone, that will be up to you at that time.

“We will make our own assessment. It is not fair for us to make a decision for GE16. We don’t know yet because in politics, one day is long, anything can happen,” he said.

Earlier, Wee, when met, said MCA’s intention of not helping the by-election campaign if the candidate is not from BN was conveyed to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also the BN chairperson.

He said the move was agreed to by the party before the MCA Political Development Committee meeting which took place at the party’s headquarters yesterday.

The Kuala Kubu Baharu state by-election will be held following the death of its incumbent, Lee Kee Hiong, 58, on March 21 due to cancer.

The Election Commission has set polling on May 11 with April 27 as the candidate nomination day.

- Bernama