Strategic move to field UMNO candidate in Hutan Melintang
BAGAN DATUK, April 26 (Bernama) -- The decision to field an UMNO candidate to contest the Hutan Melintang state seat was a strategic move to help the Perak Barisan Nasional (BN) in the 14th General Election (GE14), said Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The Deputy Prime Minister said UMNO did not take over MIC's traditional seat but only helped the MIC and BN in achieving a larger agenda to a win two-thirds majority in the state.
He said the question of wresting the seat back did not arise because the BN leadership had already discussed the matter and the MIC had also been given the Sungkai state seat.
"This suggests a high level of understanding between BN component parties, especially the MIC, for the benefit of all.
"We understand that the MIC has been contesting in Hutan Melintang for six terms, but UMNO is not taking over but only helping the MIC to win two-thirds majority in the state assembly," he said in his speech when visiting the Parit 13 voting district centre here today.
On Tuesday, Perak BN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir announced that Bagan Datuk UMNO division deputy chief, Datuk Khairuddin Tarmizi was the BN candidate for the Hutan Melintang state seat.
State MIC chairman Datuk V. Elango will contest the Sungkai state seat.
-- BERNAMA
