Jamal ‘thanks’ PH for fielding Muslimin in Sungai Besar

Sungai Besar Umno Division chief Datuk Seri Jamal Md Yunos has ‘thanked’ Pakatan Harapan (PH) for fielding former Umno member Muslimin Yahya as the opposition pact’s candidate for the Sungai Besar parliamentary seat in the 14th General Election (GE14).

He described Muslimin, who was previously a special officer to the Deputy Prime Minister’s political secretary Datuk Dr Ahmad Masrizal Muhammad, as ‘a wolf in sheep’s clothing’ to Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN).

The former teacher, who is known as ‘Cikgu Muslimin’ among locals, was also a special officer to the late Tan Sri Noriah Kasnon, who was Deputy Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities and Sungai Besar MP when she was killed in a helicopter crash in Sarawak on May 5, 2016 during the Sarawak State Election that year.

“I will hold a ‘kenduri kesyukuran’ (feast) in the near future by ‘sacrificing a goat’, to celebrate Muslimin’s depature to PH,” Jamal told Bernama yesterday.

Jamal, who is also BN’s Sungai Besar Parliamentary Constituency election director, said Sungai Besar Umno was ‘relieved’ that the ‘enemy within’ had gone to the Opposition.

“We should be thankful to PH,” he said sarcastically when asked about the former Sungai Besar Umno division committee member and former Umno Youth vice-chief competing on the PH ticket.

PH Sungai Besar yesterday announced the nomination of Muslimin as its candidate for the seat , after the former teacher joined Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), and he will take on BN candidate Budiman Mohd Zohdi, who is the incumbent.

Jamal said Umno and BN Sungai Besar were not worried about Muslimin’s candidacy, as the former teacher had never gained wide support from the grassroots, and had lost badly in previous party elections. Bernama