A senior Umno leader has suggested that the BN boycott the forthcoming by-election in Permatang Pauh.

Kelantan Umno chairperson Annuar Musa said that fielding a candidate would result in a waste of public funds and that it was unnecessary for the BN to go along with Anwar Ibrahim's political strategy.

PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail resigned as the MP for Permatang Pauh on Thursday to make way for her husband, Anwar Ibrahim, to contest the seat in a by-election.

annuar musa Annuar Musa described the resignation of Wan Azizah as a PKR political strategy to steer public focus away from the sodomy accusation against Anwar Ibrahim.

In a Bernama report, Annuar told reporters in Kota Baru that PKR was irresponsible in forcing a by-election merely for political expediency as public funds would be involved in the exercise.

So far, two Umno members had declared their interest to contest the seat. They are Pirdaus Ismail who had contested twice in Permatang Pauh and Ezam Mohd Nor.

Unfulfilled promises

Meanwhile, Bernama reported that in Bukit Mertajam, single mother Siti Khadijah Harun said the constituents had had enough of the unfulfilled promises made by political leaders and regarded the upcoming by-election as another opportunity for them to make more empty promises.

"Regardless of who the candidates are, they must fulfil their promises," she said.

Trader Mohd Radzi Saidin admitted that it was difficult for the voters to make a decision this time around because Anwar was a leader close to the hearts of the constituents.

Meanwhile, political analyst Assoc Prof Zaharom Naim said the BN should field a charismatic and popular candidate in the by-election to take on Anwar.

"The candidate should know the constituency well and understand the needs of the constituents," he said.