SEREMBAN: Barisan Nasional deputy chairman Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan has asked the party machinery to go to the ground and rally support for the unity government candidate in the Sungai Bakap state by-election.
He said the Umno machinery seems prepared to conduct a spirited campaign for Pakatan Harapan candidate Dr Joohari Ariffin.
"I have met with the party machinery and explained the necessary campaign work. If the party machinery can ensure that more than 5,000 (Umno members) out of the 13,000 Malay voters there come out to vote, it would be sufficient," he told reporters after handing over aid for flood victims in Kampung Paroi here on Saturday (June 22).
Mohamad, who is Umno deputy president, noted that the candidate supported by Barisan had lost in Sungai Bakap in the last state election although the seat used to be a Barisan stronghold.
Mohamad said Joohari, from PKR, is a PhD holder and 'local boy', making him highly respected by the local community.
The by-election on July 6 is a straight fight between Joohari and Perikatan Nasional candidate Abidin Ismail.
The seat fell vacant following the death of its assemblyman, Nor Zamri Latiff of PAS, on May 24 due to stomach inflammation.- Bernama
