JOHOR BARU: Umno has hinted that it may want to contest the Tanjung Piai by-election next month.
Party president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said though it is a traditional MCA seat, almost 57 of the voters in the Southern Johor Parliamentary seat were made-up of Malay voters.
"Umno in Tanjung Piai wants a change but MCA wants to maintain the tradition (of contesting the seat)," said Zahid.
Despite this possible new development, he cautioned Umno not to forsake MCA and the Chinese voters.
"The spirit of brotherhood must be maintained," Zahid stressed.
The former deputy prime minister said this in his speech at the opening of the Johor Umno Convention here.
Present were deputy present Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Johor Umno chairman Datuk Hasni Mohammad and MCA President, Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong.
At a press conference later, Zahid said MCA needs to be open-minded as was MIC when it gave-up the Cameron Highlands parliamentary seat for Umno to contest in the by-election held in January.
"The Barisan Nasional supreme council which will meet soon, to finalise the candidate for the by-election. A field study will be conducted at Tanjung Piai and the outcome will be used as the basis for selecting the candidate.
"The meeting (BN Supreme Council Meeting) will be held soon and we will announce the candidate before the nomination day," said Zahid.
The Bagan Datuk Member of Parliament said the BN is confident of wresting the seat from Pakatan Harapan.
"In order to do so, we need to offer a new deal to the voters which not only encompasses physical happiness but also spiritual happiness.
"The new deal (for voters) will be finalised by Johor Umno and it will be the manifesto for the by-election," said Zahid.
At the convention, Zahid also announced that Hasni had been appointed as the by-election director, while Tanjung Piai division chief Datuk Jefridin Atan was appointed as operations director.
The by-election is being held following the death of Tanjung Piai incumbent, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Dr Md Farid Md Rafik on Sept 21.
The Election Commission hd since announced that the nomination for the by-election will be on Nov 2 while voting will take place on Nov 16.
In the 14th General Election, Dr Farid won the seat by a slim majority of 524 votes in a three cornered contest by defeating the then incumbent Datuk Seri Wee Jeck Seng from the BN and Nordin Othman of Pas.