More calls have emerged for Gua Musang member of parliament Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah to spearhead the BN challenge to wrest back the Galas seat from PAS.

In Kota Bharu, the prime minister's political secretary Mohd Fatmi Che Salleh said Razaleigh should consider not only being BN's election director for the BN's campaign but also the coalition's candidate for the upcoming by-election for the state seat.

asli forum tengku razaleigh economy 150109 04 “These two responsibilities entrusted by Umno should spur Tengku Razaleigh, if he wants to see the future of the BN, particularly Umno, become brighter once again in Kelantan," he told reproters after attending the Kelantan Fire and Rescue Services Department's Aidilfitri open house here last night.

Mohd Fatmi, who is also Kota Bharu Umno chief, said it was also appropriate that Razaleigh be chosen as the candidate for the seat as the Umno veteran had never contested a state seat before.

The Galas seat, one of three in the Gua Musang parliamentary constituency, fell vacant with the death of assemblyman Chek Hashim Sulaima, 46, of PAS from colon cancer on Sept 27.

    

In the 2008 general election, he received 4,399 votes, defeating Mohamad Saufi Deraman of BN with a 646-vote majority.

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This was also echoed by People's Progressive Party vice-president and Kelantan PPP chief Nik Sapeia Nik Yusoff.

azlan "We are confident that Tengku Razaleigh can help win back the seat for the BN," he said, adding that Kelantan PPP was awaiting the green light to activate its election machinery.

In Bachok, Kelantan Umno deputy chairman Dr Awang Adek Hussin said Kelantan Umno chief Mustapa Mohamed would be meeting Gua Musang Umno leaders on Tuesday to map out the BN's campaign to re-capture the seat.

Meanwhile, Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat said the BN was attempting to reduce the Kelantan prince's stature by asking him to contest the seat.

"It will be beneath him to be the assemblyman for Galas in view of his long and chequered career as a politician," he told reporters after opening the annual general meeting of Pertubuhan Kerabat Raja Jembal Kelantan in Kota Bharu.

Until recently, an Umno stronghold

In Lumut, Perak Menteri Besar Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said Perak BN component parties were ready to help the BN election machinery in Gua Musang.

Speaking to reporters after attending an Aidifitri Open house in Seri Manjung, he said the Galas by-election presented a golden opportunity to show the people of Kelantan that they would be better off with the BN than PAS.

In Rembau, Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin said should Razaleigh decline to be the candidate, the person chosen to represent the BN must be a local and had the blessings of the Kelantan strongman. 

"Right now, Kelantan Umno Youth is only voicing its views that the most suitable candidate for the Galas seat is Tengku Razaleigh," he said when met at his Aidilfitri open house at Dewan Seri Rembau.

Razaleigh is currently overseas in Ireland.

Galas, one of three state seats under the Gua Musang parliamentary constituency, fell vacant following the death of PAS incumbent Che Hashim Sulaima.

The state seat, which has 10,330 voters, consists of 65.4% Malay, 22.3% Chinese, 1.8% Indian and 10.5% others, mostly Orang Asli.

Galas is considered an Umno stronghold.

However, it fell to PAS in the 2008 general election with Chinese voters in Gua Musang town apparently swinging against Umno.

- Bernama