LIPIS: Barisan Nasional (BN), through Umno, will field a candidate for the upcoming Nenggiri by-election in Kelantan on August 17, announced BN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The Umno president said veteran Umno leader Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, who is the Gua Musang Umno division chief, has been appointed as the Nenggiri by-election director, while Kelantan Umno liaison committee chairman Datuk Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub has been named as the by-election operations director.
"We lost the Nenggiri state seat by 810 votes in the state election last August when the then Bersatu candidate contested using the Pas logo. InsyaAllah (God willing), I announce here today in front of the media that Umno will field a candidate to contest in Nenggiri.
"If we work hard and double our efforts, I am confident that victory will be ours in the by-election. I have appointed Tengku Razaleigh as the election director and Datuk Ahmad Jazlan to lead the operations. This reflects how Umno values its local and state leaders, and hopefully, they can guide us to victory," he said in his speech when opening the Lipis Umno division delegates meeting at the Sultan Ahmad Shah Silver Jubilee Hall today.
Zahid said all division leaders would head to Nenggiri to support the party's candidate, and he has directed Pahang Umno to assist in the by-election.
In the Kelantan state election last August, BN's Ab Aziz Yusoff lost to Bersatu's Mohd Azizi Abu Naim, who contested under the PAS ticket, by a majority of 810 votes in a straight fight.
Yesterday, the Election Commission (EC) set Aug 17 for polling day, Aug 3 for the nomination of candidates, and August 13 for early voting.
The Kelantan state assembly had declared the seat vacant on June 19 after Azizi lost his Bersatu membership.
