Muhyiddin: Don’t gauge BN candidate by his looks

Voters in the Kuala Terengganu constituency should gauge Barisan Nasional candidate Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh based on his capabilities, and not on his looks, Umno vice-president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said.

The International Trade and Industry Minister said voters should exercise wisdom in choosing their candidate as the person should be capable of bringing the problems of his constituents to a higher level.

"Normally, our people look at a person's personality, his character, to an extent that these things overcome other factors required of a leader, (like) his capability to fulfil the people's needs and his performance. These are the attributes which a leader should have and we should make this the main criteria.

"Sometimes, even looks are taken into account. Wan Farid, as people say, doesn't always smile, like I do, and sometimes we are swayed by this factor, as if it is more important than his capabilities. I'm confident Wan Farid has his capabilities," he told reporters after meeting "keropok lekor" (fish sausage) operators at Losong here today.

Muhyiddin said if Wan Ahmad Farid were to win the Jan 17 by-election, it would be easier for him to bring up matters pertaining to the people's needs as he would be offered back his post as Deputy Home Minister.

"This is more than a bonus for him (Wan Ahmad Farid) because he has direct access to convey problems of his constituents to the relevant ministers.

"He also does not need a middleman to convey problems of the people in his constituency. If the voters choose the Pas candidate (Mohd Abdul Wahid Endut), what can he do.

"The federal government is a BN government, the state government is also the BN. What channel does he have to bring up the people's problems apart from the Parliament. Problems cannot be resolved. This is what the people should consider," he added. — Bernama