Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s apparent reluctance for Barisan Nasional to contest in the upcoming Penanti by-election has drawn mixed reaction from BN leaders.

Najib, who is BN chairperson, told reporters in Pekan, Pahang today that the coalition does not rule out the possibility that they may not contest in order to save public funds.

samy vellu pc 160409 01 Thus far, MIC president S Samy Vellu appears to be the most adamant that BN contest in the opposition stronghold to safeguard the coalition’s “integrity, prestige and image”.

“If we are to withdraw from contesting, it will mean that we are frightened of the opposition… we should not be afraid to face them,” said Samy Vellu in a press release today.

The MIC strongman adds that BN should field a candidate since the coalition is now under Najib’s “able and strong” leadership.

“As such, win or lose, we should contest to maintain our prestige,” he said.

MIC’s secretary-general, Dr S Subramaniam, however is far less enthusiastic about the contest, sharing Najib’s view that the by-election was unnecessary and a waste of time, energy and public funds.

According to Bernama , Subramaniam said the time wasted on unnecessary by-elections could be better utilised in other areas.

Tsu Koon says 'good idea'

koh tsu koon serious 030908 Similarly, Gerakan president Dr Koh Tsu Koon back the proposal for BN to give the by-election a miss.

“It is a good idea for BN not to participate in a by-election caused by strategic intrigue or aimed at resolving Pakatan Rakyat’s internal predicament.

“It is more fruitful for BN leaders to focus time and energy on delivering and realising the goals of (Najib’s slogan) ‘1Malaysia, people first, performance now’ for the people,” he said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Gerakan vice-president Huan Cheng Guan, while concurring with Najib that by-elections was a waste of public funds, has voiced a bizarre idea of BN fielding independents for the by-election.

“I sincerely urge the BN leadership not to stop its members from contesting as independents, as they are not using the BN machinery, and they are contesting in their own capabilities and abilities,” said Huan in a statement.

Elaborating, Huan said that even though the Penanti seat is a opposition stronghold, BN should not grant a walkover because the electorate would be denied a chance to choose their representative.

“We should let those who are interested to contest in the by-election in Penanti as independents, irrespective of whether they are members of BN or are locals… who knows a miracle might happen?” he said in a statement.

Under normal circumstances, BN would expel members of component parties who stand for elections in any other platform.

The Penang state assembly speaker has declared the Penanti state seat vacant after receiving resignation letters from Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin, who resigned to further his studies and concentrate on fighting graft charges against him.