KUALA BESUT, July 23- The support for the Barisan Nasional (BN) in the run-up to the Kuala Besut by-election is on the rise despite the opposition resorting to character assassination, said Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.
He attested this from his visit to several villages here since the nomination day and some voters openly said they would vote for the BN even if they were ferried to polling stations by the opposition.
Shafie said he believed the number of voters from Kampung Nangka, Kampung Lampu and Kampung Beris, which were under his supervision Lampu, will increase, especially among fence sitters in the last general election.
The choice of candidate is a plus factor for the BN in the by-election, he told reporters after presenting aid to 16 Kemas foster families in Kampung Nangka here Monday.
Shafie, who is also Umno vice-president, said the appointment of Member of Parliament for Besut Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh as second education minister also augured well for the BN as it would be a bridge in the development of the area.
“As Kuala Besut and two other state constituencies in the Besut parliamentary constituency are under the BN, it is better if the voters make sure it continues to remain under the BN to ensure unhindered development in these areas,” he said.
BN’s Tengku Zaihan Che Abd Rahman is pitted against PAS’ Endot @ Azlan Yusof in the by-election.
– BERNAMA