KLUANG: Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi told Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Syed Hussein Syed Abdullah not to 'embarrass' him in the Mahkota by-election this Saturday.
The BN chairman reminded him that, if elected on Sept 28, Syed Hussein must serve all communities—Indians, Malays, and Chinese—equally, as voters will assess his performance in the next election.
"Don't embarrass me—your brother. Remember, it was this hand that signed the candidate certificate (for the Mahkota by-election) with the approval of the Johor Menteri Besar. Don't embarrass me, and be sure to provide good service to the community in the Mahkota constituency," Zahid said during a 'Program Santai' with the Indian community at the BN Command Centre in Taman Sri Kluang last night.
He also pledged that the government would address Johor's crematorium shortages, an issue the menteri besar had raised with him to bring to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Johor Menteri Besar Onn Hafiz, in his speech, said that the state government had allocated RM16.9 million since 2022 for Indian community programmes, including funding for places of worship, burial grounds, and education.
"For education, all Tamil National-Type Schools (SJKT) in the state received RM5,000 each for staff rooms, totaling RM400,000," Onn Hafiz added, adding that the government is committed towards serving all citizens and values the importance of unity in Johor.
The by-election, triggered by the death of incumbent Datuk Sharifah Azizah Syed Zain on Aug 2, will be a straight contest between Syed Hussein and Perikatan Nasional candidate Mohamad Haizan Jaafar.