KOTA BARU: Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan said he is not surprised that Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) plans to use the Pas logo in the Nenggiri by-election.
He said this showed that Bersatu had no confidence in its logo.
"Bersatu's decision to use the Pas logo in the coming Nenggiri by-election proves that the party especially its leaders have no confidence in their logo.
"Maybe they fear that they might not win the state seat if they use the Bersatu logo," he said.
Ahmad, who is the deputy works minister, said this at a press conference after opening the Kelantan Malaysian Malay Contractor Association's 47th annual general meeting here today.
On the by-election, Ahmad said he was confident that Umno would gain victory in the Aug 17 election.
"I have met Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, who is the election director for the Nenggiri by-election. We have discussed this.
"The candidate's name for the Nenggiri by-election will be announced by the Umno president.
"But l am confident that we will win this time as this will enable the federal government to continue developing Nenggiri," he added.
He said there were nine villages in Nenggiri including those settled by the Orang Asli.
"I have met our candidate and I hope that he will do his best for the party. I also hope Nenggiri voters will select the right candidate this time," he said.
On July 13, Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had hinted that the party would likely use the Pas logo in the Nenggiri state seat by-election in Kelantan.
He alluded to this when he called on all party leaders and members to continue supporting its candidate in the Aug 17 by-election, even if the party contests using the Pas logo.
Muhyiddin, who is also the Perikatan Nasional chairman, added that he was upbeat aboutBersatu winning the Nenggiri by-election.
The Nenggiri by-election was called after the Kelantan Speaker Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah declared the state seat previously held by Mohd Azizi Abu Naim vacant.
Azizi, who is also the Gua Musang MP, was among the seven elected representatives sacked from Bersatu for declaring their support for the unity government.
During the Kelantan state election in August last year, Azizi secured a slim majority of 810 votes to win Nenggiri in a straight fight against a Barisan Nasional candidate.