Najib wants BN to work hard to retain seat

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LABIS: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said yesterday the Barisan Nasional (BN) must work hard to retain the Tenang state seat comfortably in the by-election on Jan 30.

OPENING CEREMONY: Najib signs the plaque at the ‘Jalur Lebar Komuniti Felda Chemplak Barat’ Centre while Information Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim (second left) looks on. — Bernama photo

“We are determined to maintain our record because we have had a good record of late in by-elections, and hope the momentum continues in our political transformation.

“We want to win comfortably. We must work hard and not make any mistake which can be exploited by the opposition,” he told a news conference after meeting residents of the Tenang Felda scheme here during his day-long visit to Labis.

The by-election is being held following the death of the three-term assemblyman, Datuk Sulaiman Taha of the BN, on Dec 17.

In the general election in 2008, Sulaiman retained the seat by beating Mohd Saim Siran of PAS with a majority of 2,391 votes.

PAS has named its Labis wanita chief Normala Sudirman, 37, as its candidate for the by-election while the BN candidate will be announced by Deputy Prime Minister and BN deputy chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin today.

Nomination for the by-election is on Jan 22. Najib said the most important criterion for selection of the BN candidate was that the constituents must be comfortable with and support him or her.

“To be an elected representative, the candidate must be close to the people, easily contactable and be able to resolve the people’s problems,” he said.

Replying to a question, Najib said the Felda settlers were cheerful and positive and were satisfied with the benefits they derived from the authority.

Najib said the headman of Kampung Felda Cempelak Barat informed him that the monthly income of the settlers exceeded RM3,000, extraction had increased and there were improved facilities in the scheme, such as a futsal court.

“This shows that we have championed the welfare. ” he said. On opposition attempts to influence the Felda settlers, Najib said the Felda people were wise in their evaluation of who was taking care of them.

On a comment by DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang that Najib’s stated intention to select only winnable candidates for the BN could result in fielding of candidates who were not credible, Najib said Lim should not interfere in the BN’s affairs. — Bernama