Umno names Ku Li to lead Nenggiri by-election charge

Umno has named party veteran and Gua Musang division chief Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah as election director for the upcoming Nenggiri by-election.

The New Straits Times reported Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as saying that the party will be fielding a candidate to contest the Kelantan state seat, while state Umno chief Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub has also been named as the by-election operations director.

“We lost the Nenggiri state seat by 810 votes in the state election last August to the then Bersatu candidate (who) contested using the PAS logo.

“InsyaAllah (God willing), I announce here today in front of the media that Umno will field a candidate to contest in Nenggiri,” said Zahid according to NST when addressing Lipis Umno delegates at the division’s annual general meeting today.

“If we work hard and double our efforts, I am confident that victory will be ours in the by-election.

“I have appointed Razaleigh (above) as the election director and Jazlan to lead the operations.

“This reflects how Umno values its local and state leaders, and hopefully, they can guide us to victory,” said the BN chairperson.

Separately, Berita Harian reported that Umno is eyeing the party’s Kelantan Youth chief Mohd Azmawi Fikri Abdul Ghani as a potential candidate in Nenggiri.

According to the Malay daily, Ketereh Umno information chief Nik Saiful Adli Burhan said a candidate must be prepared as they can no longer only rely on the party’s flag for voters’ support.

Nik Saiful, who reportedly supported Azmawi as a potential candidate, said, “Involvements in NGOs, youth groups, volunteer work and community service are a must, not just ‘political bootlickers’ getting close to the boss so they can be a candidate.”

The Election Commission set Aug 17 for polling day, Aug 3 for the nomination of candidates, and August 13 for early voting.

The Kelantan state assembly declared the seat vacant on June 19 after incumbent MP Mohd Azizi Abu Naim lost his Bersatu membership.

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