KUALA LUMPUR: The recent success in the Nenggiri by-election does not guarantee an easy win for Umno in the coming Mahkota by-election, says Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
The Umno deputy president said that Umno would have to work hard to ensure a win in the coming by-election as the situation there would be different.
"We must be careful. Do not think that just because we won Nenggiri by over 5,000 votes, it will be easy to win in Mahkota.
"The playing field will be different, with different players and a different style of play," he said in his winding-up speech at the Umno general assembly on Saturday. (Aug 24).
The Mahkota state seat in Johor was declared vacant following the death of assemblyman Datuk Sharifah Azizah Syed Zain on Aug 2.
The Election Commission has set Nomination Day on Sept 14 and Polling Day on Sept 28.
There were reports of cracks between Johor Amanah and Umno on which party would contest in the Mahkota by-election.
This was put to rest when Pakatan Harapan secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail announced that the coalition would not contest for the seat.
Both Umno Wanita and Umno Youth are vying to contest for the seat under the Barisan Nasional ticket.
Meanwhile, Mohamad reminded Umno members who sought to assist in the Mahkota by-election to keep their travel from hindering the campaigning efforts.
"Don't become a political tourist but rather travel there to assist to ensure that we will win and retain the seat," he added.
He also said that any discussion involving the candidacy for the seat should be done with decorum.
On Wednesday (Aug 21), Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi Ahmad said that he would meet with the Johor Barisan Nasional state liaison committee next week to discuss his candidacy for the by-election.
