The deputy prime minister said BN would prefer to focus on more important issues.
“I don’t want to make that an issue, I think that is her choice, for reason that she knows better,” said Muhyiddin at a press conference here.
“BN doesn’t want to exploit the issue; it is up to the voters to decide.
“There are other important issues that we should focus on, our commitment to the people,” he added.
MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek had reportedly criticised Normala for her refusal to shake hands with men, saying that her practice was not acceptable to the Chinese community.
Many pious Muslims do not shake hands with non-mahram (marriageable kin), believing that the practice is prohibited in Islam.
PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail also wears gloves when shaking hands with men.
In her response, Normala, who is also the Labis PAS Muslimat chief, blamed Umno for the attacks and said the Malay party had failed to educate its BN partners on Islamic values.
Today, Muhyiddin also ignored the swipe against Umno and said, “No need to comment, let us focus on other issues.”
Normala is contesting in what is seen as an uphill battle against BN’s Azahar Ibrahim, the former Rengit assistant district officer who resigned just days before the nomination.
The January 30 by-election was called following the death of Datuk Sulaiman Taha on December 17.
Sulaiman retained the Tenang state seat in Johor, Umno’s birthplace and political fortress, in the last general election after he defeated PAS’s Mohd Saim Siran by a majority of 2,492 votes.
The seat is situated within the Labis parliamentary constituency, a stronghold of Dr Chua and currently represented by his son Chua Tee Yong.
Another Labis state seat, Bekok, was also won by BN’s Tan Kok Hong with a majority of 1,944 votes.
BN currently controls 50 of the state assembly seats, while DAP has four and PAS, two. - Malaysian Insider
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.