BN not contesting against Anwar in PD

(FMT) – Barisan Nasional (BN) has announced that it is staying out of the Port Dickson by-election on Oct 13, where Anwar Ibrahim is standing as candidate as he seeks to return to Parliament.

BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the decision was reached after discussion among Umno, MCA and MIC, the three component parties in BN.

“We have decided to boycott the Port Dickson by-election,” Zahid, the Umno president, told reporters at the Umno headquarters today.

The decision means Anwar is likely to face a candidate from Parti Rakyat Malaysia, and two other independent candidates who have expressed their intention to challenge him.

Meanwhile, PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan when contacted said the party would decide tomorrow whether or not to contest in Port Dickson.

Danyal Balagopal Abdullah resigned to allow Anwar to contest Port Dickson

PAS has previously said it would support any BN candidate in the by-election.

Anwar, who is the incoming PKR president, has made Port Dickson as a launchpad for his parliamentary comeback, before eventually becoming the prime minister as promised to him under a deal reached among Pakatan Harapan parties.

The Negeri Sembilan seat was won by former Navy officer Danyal Balagopal Abdullah, who got 36,225 votes, defeating Barisan Nasional’s VS Mogan (18,515 votes) and PAS’ Mahfuz Roslan (6,594 votes).

On Sept 12, Danyal announced that he was quitting as MP to allow Anwar to contest, a decision criticised by both supporters and opponents of the PH government.