KUALA LUMPUR, JUNE 28- Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim’s insensitivity has irked Barisan Nasional leaders.
Citing Anwar’s immediate response on the impending Kuala Besut state by-election, Kemaman MP Ahmad Shabery Cheek said the former was being “impatient” and “disrespectful” to the family of the late assemblyman Dr Abdul Rahman Mokthar who were in mourning.
The Kuala Besut seat fell vacant following 55-year-old Abdul Rahman’s death from lung cancer on Wednesday.
Ahmad Shabery said it was unbecoming of Anwar to talk about wresting the seat from the Barisan Nasional (BN) shortly after the assemblyman’s death.
“Why can’t he wait a little longer before making such a statement. He should respect the family who are still grieving over the loss of their loved one,” he told reporters here yesterday.
Ahmad Shabery said based on previous result, the BN would not have much problem in retaining the seat.
Abdul Rahman, a two term assemblyman had retained the seat for Umno-BN after beating Napisah Ismail of PAS with a 2,434-vote majority in the 13th general election on May 5.
Meanwhile in a related comment, Umno information chief Ahmad Maslan said BN must at all cost avoid a hung assembly in Terengganu. He said a hung assembly would lead to political instability in Terengganu.
He said a victory for BN, as such, was imperative. “Imagine if PAS were to even the score at 16-16 by wresting the seat from BN which is unprecedented in the history of the country.
“So, losing Kuala Besut is not an option to BN,” he told reporters after presenting excellent service awards at the Accountant-General Department in Putrajaya yesterday.
‘Volatile’ polls The Terengganu BN hangs precariously to power with 16 seats against Pakatan Rakyat’s 15 – PAS 14 and PKR with one.
Bernama reported Ahmad, who is also deputy finance minister, as saying that the impending by-election would likely be fiercely fought between the BN and PAS, the BN would beef up its election machinery.
“I heard several names of PAS stalwarts being bandied about to stand in Kuala Besut. “So this by-election is expected to be very different, very intense and volatile,” he said.
He said Kuala Besut voters should back the BN to enable it to continue its development agenda and maintain stability in the state, he said, adding that Second Education Minister and Besut Umno Division head Idris Jusoh’s influence in the constituency would be an advantage to the BN.
