TG PIAI POLLS | Swollen eyes could not keep Najib Abdul Razak away from Tanjung Piai, in Pontian, Johor, where he arrived to lend his weight to the BN by-election machinery.
The former prime minister was also spotted on nomination day today lending support to Wee Jeck Seng, the BN candidate for the upcoming Tanjung Piai polls.
This comes after Najib was unable to attend court on Thursday for his ongoing 1MDB abuse of power and money laundering trial purportedly due to swollen eyes as a result of allergies.
However, the former BN chairperson told reporters today that his eyes were recovering well and were only slightly swollen and “still red”.
“My eyes are a little swollen. My medical leave was only for one day.
“[...]But I have been taking my medicine and have been recovering,” he told reporters outside the nomination centre at Dewan Jubli Intan Pontian today.
On the Nov 16 by-election, Najib said the rakyat’s support for BN at the constituency has been positive.
“We (BN) have explained the reasoning for selecting MCA (candidate) to contest.
“We see from this morning, (the supporters) who have come in a show of spirit were from various races.
“I have also been to several places and the environment there is very inspiring, and I hope that with hard work, unity and with no sabotage, we can guarantee the BN candidate will win,” he said.
Prior to Bersatu winning the parliament seat in last year’s general election, it was long held by MCA. Wee, the constituency’s former two-term MP, lost to the incumbent, the late Dr Md Farid Md Rafik of Bersatu, by just 524 votes.
However, following Farid’s death last month from a heart attack, many quarters in Umno campaigned for a candidate from the party to contest the Malay-majority seat.
Although comprising over 57 percent Malay voters, the constituency also has a sizeable percentage of Chinese voters - 42 percent.
Speculation over its candidacy led BN chairperson Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to recently warn BN component parties against sabotaging itself.
Meanwhile, a police report was lodged at the Pontian district headquarters yesterday against Najib.
In a copy of the report sighted by Malaysiakini and confirmed by police, the complainant had spotted the latter at the Masjid Sungai Kuali following Friday prayers.
The complainant, an activist who is purportedly an Election Commission observer for the by-election, questioned the former premier and current Pekan MP’s presence in town despite reportedly being on sick leave till Nov 1, due to his eye condition.
Najib had taken to Facebook yesterday to respond to the report.
“It has begun. I go to Tanjung Piai and people aren’t happy. Lodging a police report against me,” he posted.
Six candidates are contesting in the Nov 16 polls. Aside from Wee, the five others are Pakatan Harapan's Tanjung Piai Bersatu chief Karmaine Sardini, Gerakan deputy secretary-general Wendy Subramaniam, Berjasa president Badhrulhisham Abdul Aziz and independents Ang Chuan Lock and Faridah Aryani Abd Ghaffar.
In a statement sent to the press later, Najib questioned the need for a police report.
“I wish to inform Pakatan Harapan supporters, my eyes hurt but they are not blind and I can still see.
“It can’t be that big an issue for the Tanjung Piai by-election that my eyes are affected?” asked the ex-PM.
He also clarified that the sick leave granted by the doctor was only for Thursday and not Friday which was the day he went to Pontian. - Mkini
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