Umno will retain Pekan seat without Najib, says acting division chief
Pekan Umno will not be affected by Najib Razak’s incarceration, says acting division chief Zamri Ramli.
PETALING JAYA: Umno’s chances of retaining the Pekan seat in the 15th general election (GE15) will not be affected by former prime minister Najib Razak’s jailing.
Najib, the Pekan Umno chief, has held the parliamentary seat since 1976, defending it in GE14 with a majority of 24,859 votes in a four-cornered clash.
Pekan Umno deputy head, Zamri Ramly, now serving as the division’s acting chief, said the party had “arranged a strategy” with Najib before he was jailed, with the party machinery also kept in the loop.
“Why would we be affected? I think Umno Pekan is stronger now (as) voters will be more sympathetic.
“Our strength lies in our voters, not in any one individual,” he told FMT, adding that Najib remained a pillar of strength for the party.
Asked if he thought GE15 would be held earlier with Najib in prison, Zamri said both issues had nothing to do with each other.
“The Umno general assembly agreed that GE15 should be expedited. What does that have to do with Najib?” he said.
“That is the will of the people, the will of Umno members.”
Najib was sent to Kajang Prison on Tuesday after the Federal Court upheld his 12-year jail term and RM210 million fine in the SRC International case.
He was convicted in 2020 on seven charges of abuse of power, money laundering and criminal breach of trust involving RM42 million in SRC funds.
The decision was upheld by the Court of Appeal last December.
Following Tuesday’s Federal Court decision, Pahang Umno chief Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail announced that Zamri would be appointed as Pekan Umno’s “caretaker”.
In a statement, Wan Rosdy also said the constituency would be looked after, managed and given due attention for the benefit of the people.
On Wednesday, law minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said there was no need for a by-election in Pekan as any vacancy would take place less than two years before Parliament’s term was dissolved.
PETALING JAYA: Umno’s chances of retaining the Pekan seat in the 15th general election (GE15) will not be affected by former prime minister Najib Razak’s jailing.
Najib, the Pekan Umno chief, has held the parliamentary seat since 1976, defending it in GE14 with a majority of 24,859 votes in a four-cornered clash.
Pekan Umno deputy head, Zamri Ramly, now serving as the division’s acting chief, said the party had “arranged a strategy” with Najib before he was jailed, with the party machinery also kept in the loop.
“Why would we be affected? I think Umno Pekan is stronger now (as) voters will be more sympathetic.
“Our strength lies in our voters, not in any one individual,” he told FMT, adding that Najib remained a pillar of strength for the party.
Asked if he thought GE15 would be held earlier with Najib in prison, Zamri said both issues had nothing to do with each other.
“The Umno general assembly agreed that GE15 should be expedited. What does that have to do with Najib?” he said.
“That is the will of the people, the will of Umno members.”
Najib was sent to Kajang Prison on Tuesday after the Federal Court upheld his 12-year jail term and RM210 million fine in the SRC International case.
He was convicted in 2020 on seven charges of abuse of power, money laundering and criminal breach of trust involving RM42 million in SRC funds.
The decision was upheld by the Court of Appeal last December.
Following Tuesday’s Federal Court decision, Pahang Umno chief Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail announced that Zamri would be appointed as Pekan Umno’s “caretaker”.
In a statement, Wan Rosdy also said the constituency would be looked after, managed and given due attention for the benefit of the people.
On Wednesday, law minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said there was no need for a by-election in Pekan as any vacancy would take place less than two years before Parliament’s term was dissolved.
If UMNO puts up a monkey as their candidate in Pekan, the monkey will win the elections.
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