KJ suggests 'brotherly' discussion after division boss eyes his seat for GE15

SLIM POLLS | Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin said the issue of Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan eyeing to take over his parliamentary seat in the next general election will be resolved through "brotherly discussion". 

"This matter can be discussed as Mohamad and I are part of the same division where he is the Rembau Umno chief while I am the Rembau Umno deputy chief.

"So let us discuss the matter as Rembau 'siblings' before making a decision," he was quoted as saying by The Malaysian Insight while on the Slim by-election campaign trail in Felda Besout 2.

Earlier this month, Mohamad who traditionally contested a state seat said he was planning to move to a federal seat.

“I can no longer just contest at the state level... there is a big possibility that come GE15, I will offer myself to contest as the Rembau parliamentarian,” he had said.

He had said one of them will need to move seat but added: "I do not know where (else) to go, this is my area and as division chief, I offer myself here."

Mohamad is the four-term Rantau assemblyperson while Khairy is the three-term Rembau MP. Rantau is a state seat within Rembau.

On a separate issue, Khairy said the incident where BN Youth members booed Bersatu Youth leaders was not representative of their relationship within Perikatan Nasional. 

"Perhaps there are elements that are doing it on purpose to spark controversy or they fail to see the greater goal which is unity - particularly among Malays and Muslims through Muafakat Nasional and Perikatan Nasional," he was quoted as saying.

Bersatu Youth representatives had yesterday attended the launch of BN Youth's election machinery for the Slim by-election.

During Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's speech at the event, the mostly BN crowd repeatedly booed when the Umno president mentioned Bersatu.

Zahid also told Bersatu to prove their worth by delivering at least 6,000 votes for the BN candidate in Slim.

BN, PAS and Bersatu contested the seat in the last general election but PAS and Bersatu decided to make way to BN in this by-election as they are now part of the same coalition.

BN is represented by acting Tanjung Malim Umno chief Mohd Zaidi Aziz. His main challenger is Pejuang's Amir Khusyairi Mohamad Tanusi, who is contesting as an independent.

Pejuang is a Bersatu splinter which former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad is planning to set up. However, Amir Khusyairi must contest as an independent as the party is not yet registered.

A third candidate, former teacher S Santharasekaran, is also contesting as an independent.

COMMENT | Strained partnerships affect Slim chances of both coalitions

Najib plays pity card in Slim, repeats SRC monies were for orphans

Will Muafakat Nasional let Muhyiddin chair their coalition? - Mukhriz

Bersatu Youth booed at BN event, told to prove their worth to Umno's Slim candidate