KUALA LUMPUR: The Barisan Nasional has decided not to contest the May 31 by-election in Penanti, Najib Razak announced on Monday. “We feel it is an unnecessary by-election; we will not join in the Opposition’s political games,” said Najib, also the coalition chairman, after a Barisan supreme council meeting.
The Penanti state seat fell vacant on April 17 following the resignation of its PKR assemblyman, Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin. The Election Commission has set May 23 for nominations.
Pakatan will be fielding former Penang PKR chairman Dr Mansor Othman in the contest.Former Penang PKR Wanita chief Aminah Abdullah was reported that she intends to contest the seat as an independent.
Nominations had been fixed on Saturday while polling has been set on May 31. Penang Gerakan chairman Teng Hock Nan described the decision as "most strategic." "The BN shows that it will not be dancing to the tune of the Opposition. It instead chooses to take into consideration the people’s interest," he said.
The Penanti state seat fell vacant on April 17 following the resignation of its PKR assemblyman, Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin. The Election Commission has set May 23 for nominations.
Pakatan will be fielding former Penang PKR chairman Dr Mansor Othman in the contest.Former Penang PKR Wanita chief Aminah Abdullah was reported that she intends to contest the seat as an independent.
Nominations had been fixed on Saturday while polling has been set on May 31. Penang Gerakan chairman Teng Hock Nan described the decision as "most strategic." "The BN shows that it will not be dancing to the tune of the Opposition. It instead chooses to take into consideration the people’s interest," he said.