PONTIAN: Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said Umno did not field a candidate as Barisan Nasional representative in the Tanjung Piai parliamentary by-election because it was afraid of losing.
“Umno is scared. I know because if it puts (an Umno candidate), it will lose. We are confident of winning regardless of the candidate they are fielding. It would be even better if it is Umno but they are choosing MCA (as BN representative),” he said.
The Prime Minister was speaking to reporters at a Leader with People Session at Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina Bin Chong, here in conjunction with a one-day working visit to Johor
yesterday.
Dr Mahathir who is also Bersatu chairman was asked to comment on BN’s move to field Datuk Seri Dr Wee Jeck Seng, 55, from MCA in the Tanjung Piai by-election and not a candidate from Umno as touted earlier.
Wee who was Tanjung Piai MP for two terms from 2008 to 2018, also contested in the seat in the 14th general election but was defeated by PH candidate Datuk Dr Md Farid Md Rafiq.
On Monday, Tanjung Piai Bersatu division chief Karmaine Sardini, 66, was named PH candidate for the by-election. Karmaine who hailed from Pontian is the son a local religious figure and also Johor Bersatu Religious Bureau chairman and he had served as imam of Al-Muttaqin Mosque in Johor Bahru.
In the 14th general election, Karmaine contested in the Pontian parliamentary seat but lost to BN’s Datuk Ahmad Maslan by only 833 votes.
Earlier in his speech, Dr Mahathir said Karmaine is capable of bringing victory and retain the seat for PH and the
government.
“I believe the candidate can fulfill his pledges. He is familiar with the constituency and would receive support from the government (to fulfill his pledges). I am happy to be here. We will work to ensure he is successful. This is our hope,” he said to thunderous applause from local residents. – Bernama
