Najib: Umno political bureau to decide on Penanti

The Umno supreme Council, which met for the first time last night since Datuk Seri Najib Razak took over as party president last month, has yet to decide whether to contest the Penanti by-election following the resignation of Parti Keadilan Rakat state representative Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin.

The decision - whether to contest or not - will be made by the Umno political bureau and this was agreed to by the Supreme Council at its meeting yesterday, Datuk Najib said.

Datuk Najib heads the bureau.

He, however, declined to reveal when the political bureau is to meet to make a final decision on the matter.

Datuk Najib said last week that Barisan Nasional is contemplating in not contesting only if there was consensus among its coalition partners. He also said that BN might give it a miss because the Opposition was “playing political games” by deliberately forcing a by-election.

He said he would meet Barisan Nasional (BN) Supreme Council at the end of the month to discuss the matter.

The Election Commission, in the meantime, will announce on Monday (April 27) whether there will be a by-election.

P'raya Penanti: Biro politik Umno akan putuskan

Abdul Rahim Sabri Apr 24, 09 8:49pm

Majlis Tertinggi (MT) menyerahkan kepada biro politik parti itu untuk memutuskan sama ada akan meletakkan calon BN bertanding dalam pilihanraya kecil DUN Penanti, di Pulau Pinang.

Presiden Umno, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak yang juga pengerusi biro tersebut berkata, perkara itu diputuskan dalam mesyuarat MT hari ini.

"(MT) serahkan mandat kepada biro politik untuk buat keputusan (mengenainya)," kata Najib selepas mempengerusikan mesyuarat MT selama empat jam di ibunegara hari ini.

Sehubungan itu, katanya, biro tersebut akan membuat keputusan mengenainya.

Ditanya bilakah biro akan bermesyuarat memandangkan pilihanraya kecil itu tidak lama lagi, Najib berkata: "Kita tahu bila mahu buat mesyuarat".

Ditanya mengenai keputusan bekas Timbalan Ketua Menteri 1, Pulau Pinang, Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin dari PKR, meletak jawatan sebagai ADUN Penanti, Najib berkata:

"Prinsipnya, kita tak boleh gunakan kedudukan kita, sebab apabila kita tawarkan diri untuk bertanding, kita sanggup untuk beri khidmat untuk rakyat, selama tempoh penggal parlimen berkenaan." - sambung di sini .