KUALA LUMPUR, March 1 — Dismissing critics of Umno’s “no contest” move in Chempaka, the ruling party’s deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said that PAS should be thankful of the decision instead.

Muhyiddin, however, refused to entertain suggestions that Umno similarly stay out of other by-elections, particularly that of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s Permatang Pauh federal seat, which will be declared vacant should his royal pardon request be rejected.

“We know what to do and no one needs to give us advice because Umno is the largest component party in BN,” he was quoted by Sinar Harian Online as saying in Johor yesterday.

“PAS should be thankful because there isn’t going to be any contest in the by-election there (Chempaka), and (they) can hope for victory,” he added.

When asked about Permatang Pauh, Muhyiddin said Barisan Nasional (BN) would only discuss the matter if the Election Commission (EC) announces a by-election in the seat.

“We will give a statement once the EC decides,” he was quoted as saying in the Malay daily.

On Tuesday, Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced his party’s decision to stay out of the Chempaka contest and cited Muslim “unity” as its reason.

The decision was also made so the federal government can focus on its flood relief efforts in the east coast state, as there are still victims who need help, he added.

“We will stay out of the by-election... because we want to focus on the rehabilitation and reparation works as the efforts are still in process. There are also those who have yet to receive aid, so this is a priority.

“Secondly, we also put into consideration efforts to unite the ummah (Muslim community), as even if we differ politically, unity is important,” Najib told reporters after chairing Umno’s supreme council meeting here.

Najib defended Umno’s abstinence as “normal”, citing as precedent the Bukit Gelugor parliamentary by-election.

The Chempaka state seat fell vacant after incumbent Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, who was also PAS’s spiritual adviser, died from prostate cancer on February 12.

The EC has set nominations for March 10 and polling on March 22.

Anwar’s Permatang Pauh seat in Penang will only be declared vacant should his family’s application for a royal pardon from his sodomy conviction be rejected.

The Opposition Leader was sentenced to five years’ jail for sodomy on February 10 after the Federal Court upheld the Court of Appeal’s decision to reverse his previous acquittal for the crime.