GUA MUSANG: Kelantan Umno has criticised Bersatu's move to recruit a Pas member for the Nenggiri by-election as desperate, describing the party as having run out of candidates.
Umno information chief Datuk Zawawi Othman said that it is evident Bersatu lacks influence, particularly in Kelantan.
"Previously, Gua Musang Pas Youth requested that a Pas candidate be placed in the Nenggiri state by-election, while Bersatu insisted that the seat belonged to them.
"Yesterday, it was clear to everyone that Bersatu had to comply with the demands of Pas Gua Musang when the former Pas Youth deputy chief was selected as their candidate.
"Frankly, it seems as though Pas is the one contesting, and to legitimise the party quota—since Nenggiri is a Bersatu seat—a Pas member left the party and joined Bersatu.
"This is just comical, and it is evident that Bersatu lacks both power and quality candidates," he said when contacted.
Bersatu's candidate for the Nenggiri by-election, Mohd Rizwadi Ismail, reportedly joined the party just two days before his candidacy was announced yesterday afternoon.
Rizwadi's nomination was said to be a last-minute decision compared to the two previously proposed names, Sheikh Razali Hamad and Sun Najaman Muhamad. Rizwadi is also the former Gua Musang Pas Youth chief.
A source revealed that the decision was made after discussions among the Perikatan Nasional (PN) leadership reached a deadlock, fearing a boycott among the party machinery if a Bersatu candidate was retained.
Commenting further, Zawawi said that based on the two candidates presented, it is certain that Barisan Nasional (BN) holds more advantages.
"Our candidate is already known to the people of Gua Musang, unlike the Bersatu candidate, who is less familiar.
"Therefore, we leave it to voters to decide between BN and Bersatu. If they want a bright future, the choice is to give the mandate to BN," he said.