The Malaysian Insight

BARISAN Nasional will not contest the coming Port Dickson by-election as a sign of protest, said the coalition’s chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

“This means we will not put a candidate to represent BN or on BN’s name,” he said after chairing the Umno political bureau meeting at PWTC today.

The Umno president said the seat was vacant not because of the death of its incumbent and it would cost RM3.6 million to hold the elections.

“We realise the government is also facing financial difficulties, so we hope the money allocated for the by-election can be used for other expenses that will benefit the people.”

He said MIC which has always contested the seat has agreed to stay out.

The Bagan Datuk MP also said the party found it illogical for a seat to be vacated just to fulfil one’s ambition. 

The Port Dickson seat fell vacant after its incumbent, Danyal Balagopal Abdullah, resigned to facilitate PKR president-elect Anwar Ibrahim’s return to Parliament.

PAS previously said it would field a candidate against Anwar if BN opts out. 

Zahid said BN will not campaign and provide support for PAS if the Islamist party contested in Port Dickson. 

“Our decision is to boycott the by-election and we will not campaign for anyone else,” added Zahid. 

This was not the first time BN boycotted a by-election and he cited the Penanti by-election in 2009 as an example. – September 24, 2018.