Ready to hoist BN flag

BUKIT MERTAJAM: Barisan Nasional (BN) and Umno are ready to hoist the BN flag in Permatang Pauh.
Speaking to a 300-strong crowd at the Umno building here, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said he is hoping that BN will gain victory just as how it did in Teluk Intan, Perak, and Pengkalan Kubor, Kelantan.
"Nothing is impossible in politics where anything can happen," he said.
He said BN faced an uphill battle for the Permatang Pauh seat, considered a PKR stronghold, but pointed out the coalition managed to reduce the PKR majority during the 2013 general election.
"Success will be based on determination, diligence and dedication," he added.
The Permatang Pauh seat fell vacant when Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim failed to obtain a pardon over a sodomy conviction last month. Anwar won the seat with a 11,721-vote majority in 2013 over Dr Mazlan Ismail of BN compared to Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail who defended the seat in 2008 with a 13,398-vote majority over Datuk Pirdaus Ismail from BN.
Muhyiddin also announced the appointment of Home Minister and Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to assist in the Permatang Pauh by-election and Defence Minister and party vice-president Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hussein to oversee the Rompin by-election.
The Rompin parliamentary seat fell vacant following the death of incumbent Tan Sri Jamaluddin Jarjis in a helicopter crash on April 4.
He added that Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal, who is also an Umno vice-president, will co-ordinate and provide all assistance needed in both the by-election campaigns in his capacity as party and BN by-election director.
Some 71,000 voters in the Permatang Pauh constituency will cast their votes on May 7, while some 53,000 voters will go to the polls in Rompin on May 5.
On the candidate for the Permatang Pauh by-election, Muhyiddin said a decision will be made soon on the names submitted to the leadership for consideration.