PETALING JAYA: The Umno top leadership and its youth wing are singing different tunes over the recent decision by MCA and MIC to sit out of the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election campaign if Barisan Nasional does not field a candidate.
Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh said while he respected the decision of MCA and MIC, both parties should also do the same on any of Umno’s resolutions on the by-election.
The Umno Youth chief also said the decision on fielding a candidate for the by-election would be in the hands of the unity government leaders.
However, Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail said the two Barisan component parties should reconsider their decision.
“As a partner in the unity government, they (MCA and MIC) must accept any decision on who is suitable to stand as candidate in the May 11 by-election,” he said in a statement.
Wan Rosdy said the formula of cooperation has provided the coalition with better opportunities as seen in the Pelangai and Tioman by-elections where Barisan won.He said the reluctance of MCA and MIC to cooperate are not benefiting both parties.
“Instead, their actions may further distance them from the communities they represent.
“I hope they will reconsider so that the coalition will win and the seat remains under the ruling unity government which is the core of the country’s stability and prosperity as of now,” he said.
The Kuala Kubu Baharu seat fell vacant following the death of its incumbent assemblyman Lee Kee Hiong, 58, on March 21.
Meanwhile in Melaka, Dr Muhamad Akmal said he has no intention to criticise Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on the issue of former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s attempt to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest.
“I was just conveying doubts and questions of the grassroots relating to the issue on social media.
“I am representing the voice of the grassroots who were curious about the fate of Datuk Seri Najib,” he said when met by reporters while hosting a Hari Raya gathering at Merlimau on Saturday night.
Dr Muhamad Akmal also said any differences on the issue could be settled among the component parties in the unity government.
He was asked to respond on his social media post where he accused Anwar of giving lame excuses on the issue.
Najib is seeking to commence judicial review proceedings in a bid to compel the government to produce the “supplementary order”, which was purportedly issued by the former Yang di-Pertuan Agong during the Federal Territories Pardons Board meeting on Jan 29.
On Feb 2, the Pardons Board halved Najib’s prison sentence in his SRC International case from 12 years to six years and reduced his fine from RM210mil to RM50mil.
Najib is currently serving his sentence at Kajang Prison.
