KJ believes DAP's absence will help flip Nenggiri seat for Umno

Khairy Jamaluddin believes the by-election for the Nenggiri state seat in Kelantan will witness the first “flip” since the general election in 2022.

The former Umno leader attributed this to several factors, which included DAP’s absence during the campaign period in the Malay-majority seat located in the PAS-dominated state.

“The people of Nenggiri will not see it as PH (Pakatan Harapan contesting).

“They won’t be confused…,” he said, adding that the small number of Chinese voters rendered it inessential for DAP to stump for the Umno candidate.

Earlier, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke said he accepted Umno’s view that there is little need for DAP's assistance.

“I have already said we have the spirit of cooperation. If there was an invitation (from BN), we would go (to Nenggiri). If there is no need then we will not go,” he added.

Possible favourable result for Umno

Khairy also said the influence of Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah would be a crucial factor in determining the outcome.

Noting that 13 percent of the electorate comprise Orang Asli, he said he learned that Cameron Highlands MP Ramli Md Nor had been instructed to set up camp in various areas to win over their votes.

Ramli, from Umno, is a former police officer who became the first Orang Asli MP. He serves as the Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker as well.

However, Khairy said a favourable result for Umno cannot be interpreted as a shift in the sentiment of Malay voters, who have gravitated towards Perikatan Nasional, because it just involves a single seat.

“Nevertheless it will be cheerful news for BN which has been defeated in several by-elections, especially in their attempt to reclaim several seats lost in the previous polls,” he added on the “Keluar Sekejap” podcast.

The battle for Nenggiri is a straight fight between PN’s Mohd Rizwadi Ismail, 41, and BN’s Mohd Azmawi Fikri Abdul Ghani, 38.

The Aug 17 by-election was called following Kelantan state assembly speaker Amar Abdullah declaring the seat vacant on June 19 after being notified that its assemblyperson Mohd Azizi Abu Naim had ceased to be a member of Bersatu.

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