MACHANG: The Kelantan Pas-led government should not feel comfortable after winning the Nenggiri by-election in the last 15th General Election (GE15) as its candidate Mohd Azizi Abu Naim only won the seat by an 810-vote majority.
State Umno liaison committee chairman Datuk Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub said he believed Umno would win back the state seat in the Aug 17 by-election.
"They (the Pas-led government) should not feel too comfortable as our election machinery will work hard this time to ensure we gain victory.
"Kelantan Umno hope that if we gain victory in Nenggiri, it will put some pressure on the state government about their responsibility to the people.
"Now we only have two representatives from the unity government in the state assembly who are from Kota Lama and Galas.
"We also hope our victory in Nenggiri will put more pressure on the state government to ensure that the rights of the people in the state are protected," he added.
Jazlan, who is the Nenggiri by-election operations director, said Umno realised that the state government's administration would not change if they won the Nenggiri by-election.
"The Pas-led government will still rule Kelantan if we win the state seat but at least, there will be check and balance in the state assembly.
"Our assemblymen will reprimand them during the sitting. We need to warn them about the things they (Pas) need to implement as a government," he added.
The Nenggiri by-election will be held on Aug 17, with Nomination Day set for Aug 3 and early voting on Aug 13.
The by-election is being held after its incumbent Azizi, who contested under the Pas-Bersatu ticket, was sacked from Bersatu.
The vacancy of the state seat was announced by Kelantan State Assembly speaker Datuk Mohd Amar Abdullah.