PETALING JAYA: Barisan Nasional (BN) will not take Perikatan Nasional (PN) for granted in the Pelangai by-election despite its previous comfortable majority in the 15th general election (GE15), says Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Zahid said that BN’s election machinery must work hard, even though the coalition obtained a majority of around 4,000 votes over then-rival Pakatan Harapan’s 2,000-odd votes, Utusan Malaysia reported.
“Don’t be too overconfident, because the opposition has settled here. We must reach out to voters.”
Zahid said Pahang menteri besar Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail will lead the BN election machinery following his appointment as BN director for the Pelangai state by-election.
Zahid had earlier accompanied BN candidate Amizar Abu Adam to the Dewan Orang Ramai Felda Kemasul nomination centre in Bentong.
Amizar faces PN’s Kasim Samat and independent candidate Haslihelmy DM Zulhasli in a three-cornered fight.
The by-election is being held following the death of Umno assemblyman and Pahang exco member Johari Harun in a plane crash near Bandar Elmina in Shah Alam on Aug 17.
In GE15, Johari won with a majority of 4,048 votes, defeating Kasim, Pakatan Harapan’s Ahmed Wafiuddin Shamsuri and Isa Ahmad of Pejuang.