‘BN members must support CM’s decision on Pujut by-election’

KUCHING: All members of state Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties must support the decision made by state BN chairman Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg on the candidate for the Pujut by- election on July 4.

State BN Youth chief Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said this was crucial to ensure that the state coalition will be able to win the seat and wrest it back from the opposition.

“Whenever election fever is around the corner, usually we will see many (aspiring candidates) going to the ground to distinguish themselves to the people. But no matter what, the decision on who will be fielded lies in the hands of the state BN chairman (Abang Johari) who will be making the announcement on this.

“Therefore, it is imperative that we as party members must move forward together (to campaign) the minute the candidate has been announced and everyone must abide by his decision and support whoever is the rightful candidate to contest in the byelection later,” he told reporters when met after presenting financial contributions to Tupong constituency residents at At-Taqwa Mosque here yesterday.

Fadillah, who is also PBB Youth chief, was asked to comment on recent observations by the media that certain component party members have started going on the ground in Pujut of late giving the impression that they are the BN candidate for the by- election.

The Pujut seat fell vacant after its former assemblyman Dr Ting Tiong Choon from DAP was disqualified by the State Legislative Assembly ( DUN) on May 12 following evidence that he had previously acquired Australian citizenship.

On May 19, Election Commission ( EC) chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Hashim Abdullah announced that polling for the Pujut by- election would be on July 4 with nomination set for June 20.

In the last state election held in May last year, Dr Ting won the Pujut seat with a majority of 1,759 votes in a four- cornered fight with direct BN candidate Datuk Hii King Chiong, Jofri Jaraiee ( PAS) and Fong Pau Teck ( Independent).

Whenever election fever is around the corner, usually we will see many (aspiring candidates) going to the ground to distinguish themselves to the people. But no matter what, the decision on who will be fielded lies in the hands of the state BN chairman (Abang Johari) who will be making the announcement on this. Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, State BN Youth chief