Muhyiddin: No sabotage of Umno candidate
Published: Aug 21, 2009 8:45 AM | Updated: Aug 21, 2009 9:16 AM
Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has refuted the notion that there are elements of sabotage within the Barisan Nasional against its candidate in Permatang Pasir.
Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has refuted the notion that there are elements of sabotage within the Barisan Nasional against its candidate in Permatang Pasir.
Saying that the BN machinery had shown commitment to win the seat, Muhyiddin, who is also Umno deputy president, said he did not think there was a sabotage within Umno as party members had given their undertaking to support the candidate chosen by the party.
"They are not talking about it. Instead, they are working hard at the grassroots to convince the voters to vote for the BN and I don't see any sign within the BN that there are groups working to the contrary.
"I've sat and discussed with them and they have shown commitment. I think these claims are deliberately made to discredit the BN," he told reporters after launching the SME Corp Malaysia logo and the signing of a lease agreement between SME Corp Malaysia and MRCB here.
At the Permatang Pasir state by-election on Tuesday, the BN is represented by Permatang Pauh Umno secretary Rohaizat Othman, 38, while PAS is by its Penang state commissioner Mohd Salleh Man, 52.
The by-election is called following the death of incumbent assemblyman, Mohd Hamdan Abdul Rahman of PAS on July 31.
Asked on the campaign, which has grown in intensity, Muhyiddin said, "Maybe it's because of the fasting month. They are taking advantage to say what they want to say (before the fasting month, which starts tomorrow).
"I think, what is important now is to let the voters make their decision. Our focus should be on highlighting party policies. The BN has explained this," he said.
PAS told not to harp on petty issues
Meanwhile, embattled candidate Rohaizat has asked PAS to contest in a gentlemanly manner and not to harp on petty issues.
He said PAS' candidate should make clear to the voters of his plan to solve the problems faced by the people in Permatang Pasir.
"This is the kind of issues that should be dealt with and not petty ones," he told reporters when campaigning house-to-house to woo support in Sungai Semambu, here today.
Rohaizat (far left) said he did not want to waste time responding to PAS' various allegations about him, but instead would focus on his efforts to explain to the people about BN's plans for the constituency should the party win the by-election, scheduled for Aug 25.
"Their allegations are not true and why should I respond to something that is not true? It's better if I just do my job," he said, declining to comment further on the latest allegations made by PAS on the status of his second marriage.
When asked about his former legal partner, Yusri Ishak, who is now campaigning for the opposition, Rohaizat said: "Let's talk about that after the by-election."
‘He’s an honourable man’
Despite various personal attacks launched against him by the opposition, Rohaizat still had the support of his family.
His brother, Rohaimi, said that they were not surprised at the allegations as they had already expected this to happen.
"Our family has actually prepared for this and all the allegations and personal attacks launched by PAS' leaders had just strengthened our support for him," he said.
Rohaimi said their parents, Othman Ishak, 68, and Siti Fatimah Md Akib, 60, had also given their undivided support for Rohaizat to continue doing good for the people.
He said the opposition party could say anything they like, but that would not rattle their faith in Rohaizat because they knew him better.
"We feel that the allegations are intended to tarnish his character. We know that they are not true and that he is a noble and honourable man," he added.
Rohaimi also said that they were disappointed with PAS' strategy to condem their opponent without actually explaining their objectives and agenda in contesting the state seat.
"As a party which upholds Islam, their words and attitude do not comply with Islamic principles. In fact, what they are doing definitely contradicts Islamic teachings," he added.
- Bernama
Saying that the BN machinery had shown commitment to win the seat, Muhyiddin, who is also Umno deputy president, said he did not think there was a sabotage within Umno as party members had given their undertaking to support the candidate chosen by the party.
"They are not talking about it. Instead, they are working hard at the grassroots to convince the voters to vote for the BN and I don't see any sign within the BN that there are groups working to the contrary.
"I've sat and discussed with them and they have shown commitment. I think these claims are deliberately made to discredit the BN," he told reporters after launching the SME Corp Malaysia logo and the signing of a lease agreement between SME Corp Malaysia and MRCB here.
At the Permatang Pasir state by-election on Tuesday, the BN is represented by Permatang Pauh Umno secretary Rohaizat Othman, 38, while PAS is by its Penang state commissioner Mohd Salleh Man, 52. The by-election is called following the death of incumbent assemblyman, Mohd Hamdan Abdul Rahman of PAS on July 31.
Asked on the campaign, which has grown in intensity, Muhyiddin said, "Maybe it's because of the fasting month. They are taking advantage to say what they want to say (before the fasting month, which starts tomorrow).
"I think, what is important now is to let the voters make their decision. Our focus should be on highlighting party policies. The BN has explained this," he said.
PAS told not to harp on petty issues
Meanwhile, embattled candidate Rohaizat has asked PAS to contest in a gentlemanly manner and not to harp on petty issues.
He said PAS' candidate should make clear to the voters of his plan to solve the problems faced by the people in Permatang Pasir.
"This is the kind of issues that should be dealt with and not petty ones," he told reporters when campaigning house-to-house to woo support in Sungai Semambu, here today.
Rohaizat (far left) said he did not want to waste time responding to PAS' various allegations about him, but instead would focus on his efforts to explain to the people about BN's plans for the constituency should the party win the by-election, scheduled for Aug 25. "Their allegations are not true and why should I respond to something that is not true? It's better if I just do my job," he said, declining to comment further on the latest allegations made by PAS on the status of his second marriage.
When asked about his former legal partner, Yusri Ishak, who is now campaigning for the opposition, Rohaizat said: "Let's talk about that after the by-election."
‘He’s an honourable man’
Despite various personal attacks launched against him by the opposition, Rohaizat still had the support of his family.
His brother, Rohaimi, said that they were not surprised at the allegations as they had already expected this to happen.
"Our family has actually prepared for this and all the allegations and personal attacks launched by PAS' leaders had just strengthened our support for him," he said.
Rohaimi said their parents, Othman Ishak, 68, and Siti Fatimah Md Akib, 60, had also given their undivided support for Rohaizat to continue doing good for the people.He said the opposition party could say anything they like, but that would not rattle their faith in Rohaizat because they knew him better.
"We feel that the allegations are intended to tarnish his character. We know that they are not true and that he is a noble and honourable man," he added.
Rohaimi also said that they were disappointed with PAS' strategy to condem their opponent without actually explaining their objectives and agenda in contesting the state seat.
"As a party which upholds Islam, their words and attitude do not comply with Islamic principles. In fact, what they are doing definitely contradicts Islamic teachings," he added.
- Bernama
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