TUMPAT, Sept 12 — Barisan Nasional is capable of tackling religious issued raised by the opposition parties in the run up to the Pengkalan Kubor state by-election, Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom said.
This, he said, was based on the BN government’s track record in spreading Islamic teachings in the country.
He said the selection of Mat Razi Mat Ail, who has strong religious background, to stand as the BN candidate for the by-election was to enable him to serve the people better.
BN would be able to give the best service to the people, not only in terms of providing physical development, but also spiritual development as he has his own pondok school, he told reporters after opening the Ar Rahnu branch here today.
Meanwhile in PASIR MAS, Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim said the Kelantan Umno machinery was fully geared to face the Pengkalan Kubor by-election.
Umno’s strength lies with its machinery, which is moderate, he said after opening the Pasir Mas Umno Wanita, Youth and Puteri divisional meetings today.
He said the Umno machinery from other states would only come to Kelantan to assist in the by-election.
The Pengkalan Kubor by-election has been necessitated by the death of three-term assemblyman Datuk Noor Zahidi Omar of the BN on August 20. Nomination is on Saturday and polling on September 25.
In the last general election, Noor Zahidi defeated Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) candidate Saharun Ibrahim and an Independent candidate, Izat Bukhary Ismail Bukhary, with a majority of 1,736 votes. — Bernama
