LIPIS: Umno winning the Nenggiri state seat by-election in Kelantan will serve as a 'significant manifestation' ahead of the party's general assembly scheduled to take place between Aug 21 and Aug 24.
As such, Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi urged the party top leadership, divisions and branches nationwide to assist its election machinery to help Barisan Nasional candidate Mohd Azmawi Fikri Abdul Ghani to win the by-election, which has been fixed for polling on Aug 17.
"We all know next Saturday (Aug 17) is the Nenggiri by-election so if we want our general assembly to be 'meriah' (lively) then please help the voters in the constituency to return the state seat to BN through Awi (Mohd Azmawi Fikri).
"Victory in the by-election will provide an extremely significant manifestation ahead of Aug 21, Aug 22 and Aug 23 (Umno general assembly)...the assembly is held just several days after the by-election," he said in his speech when opening the Cameron Highlands division delegates' meeting at Laman Sejahtera Jelai in Sungai Koyan here today.
Present was Umno vice-president and Cameron Highlands Umno division chairman Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail, who is also the Pahang Menteri Besar.
The event is Wan Rosdy's first public event since undergoing heart surgery on June 7.
Meanwhile, Zahid, who is also the deputy prime minister and rural and regional development minister, said during the state election last year, Umno's candidate lost by a narrow majority of 810 votes.
"Datuk Ramli (Deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker and Cameron Highlands member of parliament Datuk Ramli Mohd Nor) mentioned many Orang Asli voters did not cast their ballots due to certain reasons...Kesedar (South Kelantan Development Authority) voters did not come out (to vote) and there were issues with nine polling district centre (PDM) at traditional villages and Felda Perasu.
"Alhamdulillah, this time, coincidently five Orang Asli PDMs, five Kesedar PDMs, nine PDMs at traditional villages and one Felda PDM is under the Rural and Regional Development Ministry...please help me redeem our dignity in Nenggiri," he said.
The Nenggiri by-election will see a straight fight between BN's Mohd Azmawi and Mohd Rizwadi Ismail representing Perikatan Nasional.