Khalid Samad willing to sit out Nenggiri by-election campaign

 

Amanah communications director Khalid Samad said Umno was well within its rights to prevent any leader, considered controversial, from campaigning since they are contesting the seat in the by-election. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: 

A Pakatan Harapan (PH) leader is prepared to sit out campaigning at the Nenggiri by-election if his presence could harm Barisan Nasional’s (BN) chances of winning the seat next month.

Amanah communications director Khalid Samad said he respects Kelantan Umno’s stance that unity government leaders who wish to campaign in the Nenggiri by-election must be vetted first by Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah and Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub.

Tengku Razaleigh, also known as Ku Li, is the Gua Musang Umno chief and has been appointed Umno’s director for the Aug 17 by-election, while Jazlan will act as the operations director.

Former federal territories minister Khalid admitted that he may not be well-liked by Umno members in Kelantan due to his criticism of former prime minister Najib Razak and the party’s plea to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to reject Najib’s appeal to be pardoned and released from jail. 

So if my presence doesn’t help, it’s better that I not campaign,

 Khalid told FMT.

We will help (Umno) win the seat, (even if that means) not campaigning if that is considered problematic,

 said Khalid, who stressed that Umno is well within its rights to prevent any leader from campaigning since they are contesting the seat.

Kelantan PH Youth chief Hazmi Hassan also said he respected Umno’s stance considering Ku Li’s experience in politics and his close ties with voters in Gua Musang, a federal constituency which he represented for 36 years (1986-2022).

This step (screening political leaders) shows that the unity government is serious about winning this by-election,

 said Hazmi.

Yesterday, Kelantan Umno information chief Zawawi Othman said the vetting process is meant to ensure that their speeches during the campaign do not jeopardise Umno’s chances of reclaiming the seat.

On July 11, the head of the unity government’s secretariat, Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, said BN will represent the unity government in fielding a candidate for the Nenggiri state by-election on Aug 17.

It is understood that Gua Musang Umno has only submitted the name of its state youth chief, Azmawi Fikri Abdul Ghani, for nomination as the candidate.

The by-election was called following the Kelantan state assembly speaker’s declaration on June 19 that the seat was vacant after its incumbent, Azizi Abu Naim, ceased to be a Bersatu member.

Azizi, who is also the Gua Musang MP, is among the Bersatu elected representatives who have pledged support for the unity government.

He previously said he would make way for a candidate from the unity government in the Nenggiri by-election.

Azizi was elected to the state assembly to represent Nenggiri last August after defeating Umno’s Ab Aziz Yusoff in a straight fight by a slim majority of 810 votes. - FMT