Umno: BN tailoring strategy for Semenyih

PETALING JAYA: Barisan Nasional will bring the “spirit of the Cameron Highlands by-election” to Semenyih.

But the strategy will be different this time as it is a different playing field, said Selangor Umno liaison committee chairman Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

He also said the Barisan candidate should be a local and must be accepted by all segments of voters in Semenyih.

“Cameron Highlands is purely rural, but the Semenyih state constituency has three segments of voters – rural, semi-urban and urban. So, the strategy will be based on the segments.

“We have shortlisted a few potential candidates. The candidate chosen must be acceptable to Umno and PAS.

“But most importantly, he or she must be accepted by the people of Semenyih.”

He also said he does not think the non-Malay voters would shy away just because PAS will be using its machinery to fish for votes for the Barisan candidate.

“Semenyih non-Malay voters did support PAS before when the party was in the coalition with other parties in Pakatan Harapan,” he added.

He said although Barisan is now the opposition, its main offer to the voters is to provide checks and balances in the Selangor state assembly and to pressure the Pakatan government to walk its talk.

“The biggest issue for the people now is the Pakatan government’s failure to perform.

“There has yet to be a proper effort from the government to address the woes of the rakyat.

“Basic issues such as the high cost of living, low purchasing power of consumers and factors slowing down small businesses have yet to be addressed.

“People are obviously fed-up. Even the Chinese businesses are feeling the pinch, and our win in Semenyih will send the right signals to the Pakatan government that it needs to fulfil its GE14 manifesto and sweet promises,” said Ismail Sabri.

Barisan leaders will meet on Thursday to decide on the candidate for the Semenyih by-election.

The Selangor state constituency seat fell vacant following the death of Pakatan assemblyman Bakhtiar Mohd Nor on Jan 11 from a heart attack. He was 57.

In GE14, Bakhtiar, from Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, defeated candidates from Barisan, PAS and PSM in a four-cornered fight, winning with a majority of 8,964 votes. He garnered 23,428 votes.