BN parties must assist unity govt candidate in by-election, says Tok Mat

Barisan Nasional component parties are required to help any candidate representing the unity government in the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election, says BN deputy chairman Mohamad Hasan.

(FMT) – He said this is because BN respects the time-honoured system that the incumbent party be given priority to field the candidate in a by-election.

“We don’t know who the candidate is because we have only met once and DAP hasn’t decided on the candidate.

“We should help because people have helped us. There is no question of not wanting to help, that’s not proper.

“We are not joining forces, we are helping as partners in the unity government,” he told reporters at his Aidilfitri open house, also attended by MCA president Wee Ka Siong, at Kampung Tanjung, Rantau today.

Mohamad was commenting on the actions of MCA and MIC which had announced they would not campaign in the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election if the government candidate is not from BN.

Mohamad, who is also the Umno deputy president, said all parties in the unity government had helped the BN candidates in the previous Pelangai by-election.

“Now it is DAP’s turn as the incumbent. Our understanding is when there is a death, that party is given priority (to choose their candidate).

“This is not a general election where we can exchange seats. For the general election, we have not discussed whether we want to be together or to go alone.

“It is not fair for us to make a decision for the 16th general election now. We don’t know yet because in politics even one day is long … anything can happen,” he said.

Met at the function, Wee said MCA’s intention of not helping in campaigning for the by-election (if the candidate was not from BN) had been conveyed to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as BN chairman.

He said the proposal had been agreed to by the party before the MCA political development committee meeting which took place at the MCA headquarters yesterday.

The Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election is being held following the death of its incumbent, Lee Kee Hiong, 58, on March 21 from cancer.

The Election Commission has set April 27 as nomination day and May 11 for polling.