TAPAH: Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has refuted claims that the party’s youth division was boycotting Barisan Nasional's candidate for the Ayer Kuning by-election.
The Deputy Prime Minister said there was no such issue.
There had been talks earlier that Umno Youth was unhappy with the choice of the candidate, as Perak Umno Youth had proposed Fahmi Ahmad Jakhisi as the candidate.
Ahmad Zahid also said that Barisan's machinery, under the leadership of Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad, had already done the groundwork and hoped that voters in Tapah, especially in Ayer Kuning, would provide support.
“I feel that the groundwork that has been carried out by Saarani has already started, and we do not intend to hold large-scale public talks.
“Instead, we prefer to engage and reach out to the voters around Ayer Kuning more personally,” he said.
Ahmad Zahid also said that while Barisan was not making any promises of development, with the selection of Ustaz Yusri as assemblyman, development would continue.
“We hope that voters in Ayer Kuning will support our candidate because he has promised to continue the service legacy that was provided by the late Ishsam Shahruddin.
“We have a good candidate who can deliver the best services to the voters and residents of Ayer Kuning,” he said.
When asked about the state seat being Barisan’s stronghold since 1986, and that this by-election would become a focus for the Opposition and potential issues that might be raised during the campaign, Ahmad Zahid said he did not see many local issues being brought up.
“I don’t see many local issues. They (the Opposition) might raise national-level issues, and we are ready to counter all those issues.
“All this might not even be relevant to the voters in Ayer Kuning, but nevertheless, the responses given will provide clarification on the issues raised by the Opposition,” he added.
