AYER KUNING BY-ELECTION : BN TO FOCUS ON ENGAGING VOTERS, NO LARGE-SCALE CERAMAH – DPM ZAHID

TAPAH, April 12 (Bernama) -- Barisan Nasional (BN) will not hold large-scale ceramah during the campaign for the Ayer Kuning state by-election, said BN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Instead, Zahid, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister, said the party will focus on direct engagement with voters in the constituency.

He  said the opposition had few local issues to raise, focusing mostly on national matters, which BN is prepared to address.

“Our responses, Insya-Allah, will not only satisfy voters here but also help clarify the issues raised,” he told a press conference after the nomination process at Dewan Merdeka here today.

Zahid, who is also the Minister of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW), said the ministry will assess the needs of the constituency to identify areas for improvement to enhance the wellbeing of residents.

“Ayer Kuning is a rural area. Insya-Allah, the ministry (KKDW) will consider continued infrastructure development here.

“We hope voters in Ayer Kuning will support the BN candidate (Dr Mohamad Yusri Bakir), who has pledged to continue the work of the late Ishsam Shahruddin,” he said.

When asked about claims that UMNO Youth was boycotting the BN candidate, Zahid dismissed the allegations and expressed confidence that the youth wing would fully support Mohamad Yusri.

The Ayer Kuning by-election will see a three-way contest involving Mohamad Yusri, Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidate Abd Muhaimin Malek, and Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) candidate Bawani KS.

The by-election was called following the death of incumbent, Ishsam, 58, on Feb 22..

The Election Commission has set polling day for April 26, with early voting scheduled for April 22.

-- BERNAMA