DPM dispels rumours of backing Mugilan
Deputy Barisan Nasional chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin has rubbished claims that he is backing MIC Youth deputy chief V Mugilan as the BN candidate for the upcoming Hulu Selangor by-election.
Deputy Barisan Nasional chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin has rubbished claims that he is backing MIC Youth deputy chief V Mugilan as the BN candidate for the upcoming Hulu Selangor by-election.
"No such thing. No such thing. I mean, no statement's been made and I don't think anything's been revealed to that effect," he said.
He urged all quarters to stop speculating on the candidate and wait for his announcement scheduled for tomorrow at the BN main operation centre in Bukit Beruntung.
Muhyiddin also dismissed news reports that there was an disagreement over the choice of candidate during the BN management committee meeting in Parliament House on Monday.
"It was just a normal meeting," he said.
He was referring to reports that he has been rooting for Mugilan (above, right), much to the chagrin of party heads in MIC.
MIC leaders have maintained that Palanivel is the sole nominee as the candidate. His candidacy is crucial for the party as he is poised to helm the party soon.
However, several Hulu Selangor Umno leaders have intensified objections to Palanivel's candidacy, claiming that he has a lacklustre track record despite him being a four-term MP.
There have been calls from local Umno leaders for BN to return the seat to Umno, which has been contesting there until it was passed to MIC in 1990.
Commenting on this, Muhyiddin (below) denied any conflict between component party members over the choice of candidate.
"There's no rift. In times like this, when there is a by-election, everyone gets excited and there are a lot of people making all sorts of assessments.
"It's quite normal and it's not the first time we have faced this (allegation of disunity). I am already considered quite an expert in by-elections," said Muhyiddin, who will head the BN campaign.
'Zaid has deep pockets'
Muhyiddin, who is also Umno deputy president, took pot shots at his former party colleague Zaid Ibrahim, who has been named as PKR's candidate for Hulu Selangor.
According to Muhyiddin, PKR chose Zaid simply because the latter is rich.
"This is based on the information that I have received. It is not because he can serve. I am confident that the voters want a local representative. But maybe that is PKR's own strategy and that is their right," he said.
Asked about PKR's tendency to field candidates who eventually quit the party after being elected, he said that voters should know that Zaid has switched parties before.
Zaid (right), a former Umno strongman, had resigned from his cabinet position as Minister in the Prime Minister's Department in charge of law, in protest of the arrest of journalist Tan Hoon Cheng, Selangor exco Teresa Kok and a blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin under the Internal Security Act in 2008.
Muhyiddin conceded that the by-election will be an uphill task for BN and urged campaign workers to never be over-confident.
"We heard that PKR has mobilised their entire machinery. Even the menteri besar has taken up residence in the district office.
"But it's OK. We have our own strategy to ensure victory," he told reporters after giving a keynote address at the 14th Malaysia Education Summit at the Sunway Pyramid Convention Centre this morning.
