SUNGAI PETANI, 30 March 2009: Independent candidates are pitting themselves in the Bukit Selambau state by-election for personal gain and not pursuing the interest of the people, said Umno deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
“They have no political ideology or philosophy. I don’t think the voters will throw the opportunity away by voting any of them.
“I don’t think they are after victory but merely for the sake of contesting and not to serve the community. But in democracy, they are not barred from contesting,” he told reporters after attending a briefing at the Merbok Barisan Nasional (BN) operation room in Aman Jaya near here today.
He said the previous Selambau assemblyperson V. Arumugam of Party Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) had shirked his duty as an elected representative and a state executive councillor.
“Do not repeat the mistake. I think if the PKR candidate wins the by-election, he will also shirk his duty as the party has no philosophy. They are contesting for personal gain,” he said.
Muhyiddin, who is also International Trade and Industry Minister, said BN would tackle issues raised by all the communities in the constituencies.
He said the by-election was also the right time, for the new BN leadership under incoming prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, to expound on its commitment for reform to the people.
On BN chances in the by-election, he said, “It’s 50-50. I need another one per cent to win,” he said. — Bernama
