Penanti by-election: ‘Umno not backing any independent’

By V.P.Sujata, The Star

Umno is not sponsoring any independent candidate for the Penanti by-election as alleged by certain quarters, said party information chief Ahmad Maslan.

Ahmad, who is also Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, said Barisan Nasional’s reason for not contesting, as stated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, was not to waste money but to work to revive the economy.

“We also do not want to fall into the trap set by the Opposition to force us into a by-election to ‘improve our image.’

“Why should Barisan waste energy and money to improve its image?” he told reporters at a press conference at Menara Dato’ Onn here Tuesday.

Former Penang PKR Wanita head Aminah Abdullah had said that she was going ahead with her plan to contest the Penanti state seat.

The other candidates who have announced their intention to contest are Pakatan Rakyat's choice, former Penang PKR chairman Dr Mansor Othman, 56, and independent Mohd Saberi Othman, 49, a used-car saleman.

Ahmad added that the Barisan would not contest in by-elections which it sees as “unreasonable” due to a series of resignations.

The same would apply if the Opposition pushes for more “unreasonable” by-elections in the future, he said.

However, when asked if the Barisan would stay out of by-elections in Perak where the coalition has a slim majority now, Ahmad said they would have to decide on that later after the dispute on the state leadership is resolved by the court.