KUALA LUMPUR: Mahkota will be "another Tanjung Piai" which may lead to the fall of Perikatan Nasional (PN) and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), said an Umno leader.
Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Dr Puad Zarkashi said Barisan Nasional (BN) won big in the 2019 Tanjung Piai by-election, when the coalition's candidate, Datuk Seri Dr Wee Jeck Seng beat five other candidates.
"This then led to the split in Pakatan Harapan (PH), the Sheraton Move, and the government led by PH collapsed.
"Pas does not dare to loan its member to become Bersatu's candidate in the Mahkota by-election.
"They are afraid of losing another time like they did in Nenggiri, maybe losing even worse," he wrote on Facebook.
Puad, who is also Johor State Assembly speaker, said Bersatu is being forced to find its candidate in an attempt to prove itself as a worthy replacement for Umno.
"Umno will go up against Bersatu for the first time in a by-election in Mahkota.
"PN failed going up against Parti Amanah Negara in the Pulai and Simpang Jeram by-elections.
"Pas did not wrest Pelangai from Umno and also lost Nenggiri to Umno.
"Mahkota will be Tanjung Piai 2.0," he added.
The seat was left vacant following the death of its assemblyman Datuk Sharifah Azizah Syed Zain who was also Umno Kluang Wanita chief.
The Mahkota polls is set for Sept 28.