‘Changes afoot in MCA and MIC’
Najib: Parties recovering from GE14 defeat
SHAH ALAM: MCA and MIC are not “active” in the Sungai Kandis byelection as both are still recovering from their own crushing defeats in the 14th General Election, says Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
The former prime minister said MCA and MIC, two of the only three Barisan Nasional component parties left in the once 13member coalition, should be given time to recover.
“MCA only won one parliamentary seat, while MIC won two. Under such circumstances, they have to reflect on their weaknesses and restore their spirit and leadership,” Najib told reporters during his visit to the constituency yesterday in support of Umno candidate Datuk Lokman Noor Adam of Barisan.
He said change was already taking place in MIC, which has a new president in place.
“Let us give them some time first,” Najib said, adding that there were some MIC leaders helping out in the campaign.
After visiting the Barisan command centre where he cut a birthday cake, he called on 10 families who were strong Umno backers.
“I asked for their continued support and hope their children will continue the tradition,” said Najib, who turned 65 on Monday.
He described Lokman, an Umno supreme council member, as an outstanding individual who was willing to speak his mind and was not afraid to state what was right or wrong.
“That is exactly the kind of elected representative we need for Sungai Kandis,” he said.
On Barisan’s chances of winning the seat, Najib said he did not want to make any prediction.
“But it is important to make a strong case on why it is necessary to have a good balance in the Selangor Legislative Assembly... we cannot have one side with an overwhelming majority,” he added.
On PAS not indicating its willingness to help Barisan, Najib, who is Pekan MP, said this could be due to the Islamist party’s history with Umno.
“We have to be realistic. Due to the decades of animosity between PAS and Umno, there could be some lingering feeling that we cannot overlook.
“Hopefully people will realise that what is important is not the past, but the future,” he said, although he added that PAS supporters were well aware of Umno’s commitment to upholding Islam.
“It is a given fact that they see Umno’s commitment to Islam as being far greater than that of Pakatan Harapan,” he pointed out.
On whether PAS would be asked to help out, he said this was for Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to decide.
Lokman is contesting against Pakatan’s Zawawi Ahmad Mughni of PKR and Independent candidate K. Murthy.
The Sungai Kandis state seat fell vacant following the death of Selangor PKR information chief Mat Shuhaimi Shafie on July 2.