BN won’t seek to contest Kuala Kubu Baharu, defers to govt

 

BN will not seek to contest the Kuala Kubu Baharu seat in Selangor following the death of its incumbent assemblyperson, DAP’s Lee Kee Hiong.

Instead, BN chairperson Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said his coalition will respect whoever is chosen by the government to contest the seat.

“We are aware the Kuala Kubu Baharu seat in the Selangor assembly has become vacant due to the passing of its incumbent, but even though the number of Malay voters in Kuala Kubu Baharu has increased beyond 50 percent, out of respect for the Madani government, I feel that colleagues in Umno and BN components should respect that seat,” he said.

He expressed confidence that Umno and its partners in BN will mobilise their party machinery to support whoever the federal government chooses as a candidate for the looming by-election.

“Even though the date of the election has yet to be determined, this respect needs to be translated; hopefully the relationship that is formed is mutually supported, solid, and strong,” Zahid said during a breaking-fast event with the Umno supreme council at the Kuala Lumpur World Trade Centre today.

He added that the decision was made based on the party’s support for the unity government.

Lee Kee Hiong

“We have reached several agreements and we continue to be steadfast and support the sense of unity among the component parties in the unity government and we want the country’s political justice to continue to be upheld.

“And Inshallah, the many by-elections and state elections have fostered unity among the component parties between BN and BN partners and component parties of the unity government,” he said.

Lee, who held the Kuala Kubu Baharu seat since 2013, passed away yesterday after battling cancer for years.

In the last state election in August, Lee defeated candidates from Perikatan Nasional, Muda, and PRM with a majority of 4,119 votes.

She first represented the constituency in 2013 after defeating MCA’s Ooi Hui Wen and three independent candidates by a majority of 1,702 votes.