Published: Sunday April 19, 2009 MYT 4:24:00 PM
Updated: Sunday April 19, 2009 MYT 4:25:15 PM
Dr M: Barisan should contest Penanti seat
By NIK NAIZI HUSIN
RAUB: Barisan Nasional should not throw in the towel and withdraw from contesting the Penanti by-election as it would give the impression that the party is weak.
This would disappoint its supporters, especially those in the constituency, said former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
He said Barisan should not surrender even if the seat was in the Opposition’s hands, adding that he was against the idea that the ruling coalition should only contest in areas where it was strong.
“If it (the Penanti state constituency) was in an Umno area, I am sure that we will contest. However, since it is in an Opposition area, we do not want to contest.
“But if we wait to contest only in Umno areas, then there would not be any Umno’s areas and we would not have to contest anywhere,” he said after presenting his main speech on “Young Malay direction” topic held at Rakan Muda Sports Complex in Dong here Sunday.
The event was organised by Raub Umno Youth. Also present were Raub Umno division chief Datuk Shahiruddin Ab Moin and his Youth chief Arif Fadzillah Abu Samah.
On Saturday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had said that Barisan may not contest the Penanti state by-election if there was a consensus among all component parties that it would be a waste of funds, describing the latest need for yet another by-election as “clearly a political ploy” by the Opposition.
In his speech on Sunday, Dr Mahathir said that during his time as Prime Minister, Umno had never withdrawn from any election or by-election, even if it was held in Kelantan, a PAS stronghold.
“Winning or losing is a separate matter; however, if we do not contest then the other party has already won,” he said.
“History has proven that Umno can face giant powers, including the British administration in our struggle for independence.
“The fighting spirit of those days should be a lesson to present and future generations ... if not for this spirit, this country would still be in the hands of the British government,” he said.
Related stories:
Najib: BN may not contest polls
Not contesting will cool political climate: Ong
Hold by-elections only when necessary, say all
Let’s not play Opposition’s game, say Barisan leaders
Anwar lauds possibility of BN absence
Party posts no guarantee of election wins, Umno division leaders told
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