BN has the enough ‘ammo’ against PR for Hulu Selangor square off

The Barisan Nasional (BN) has plenty of “ammo” against Pakatan Rakyat (PR) in the upcoming Hulu Selangor by-election, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said.

“During campaigning, all kinds of things will happen but we have plenty of material in our arsenal now which we can use in the by-election,” he told reporters after visiting a National Key Result Area laboratory for quality teaching at the Education Ministry here today.

The Hulu Selangor seat fell vacant following the death of its member of parliament Dr Zainal Abidin Ahmad of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) yesterday.
Zainal, 71, who was a former menteri besar of Selangor when he was in BN and joined PKR in 2005, defeated BN’s Datuk G. Palanivel by a slim majority of 198 votes in the last general election in 2008.

Palanivel, who is MIC deputy chairman, was also the deputy minister of the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development

Muhyiddin, who is also BN deputy chairman, said the people in Selangor is fed up of the PR government in the state.

“I am hearing many grouses about the PR government, the people (in Selangor) are regretting voting the PR to be the government in the state (in the last election) and have come to realise that only the BN can deliver the goods.

“However, we (BN) must not be complacent or over confident of our chances,” he said.

As to the candidate, Muhyiddin, who is also Education Minister, said the person must be well-liked by the people and able to discharge his duties as a BN elected representative towards the betterment of the people in Hulu Selangor.

“We will put the best person possible to contest the seat. At the moment, the candidate who will represent the BN will be from MIC,” he said.

Asked if Umno would be contesting the seat, Muhyiddin said at the moment, he did not know what decision is going to be.

“Although there are views as such (for BN to be represented by Umno), the final decision will be made at the very top level... we will just have to wait,” he said.

Muhyiddin also extended his condolences to Zainal Abidin’s family.

The Election Commission will meet next Friday to decide on the date for the by-election. — Bernama