DPM expresses confidence over the BN's chances of winning Permatang Pauh by-election

PERMATANG PAUH: Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin cut a confident figure today after the nomination process for the Permatang Pauh by-election.

He expressed his confidence over the chances of the Barisan Nasional to wrest the parliamentary seat which has been under the opposition for 17 years.

He said feedback from the ground was that voters want development and a representative that is around.

He asked how the PKR candidate could fully take care of the interests of the voters here, noting that she is also Kajang assemblyman.

He said the BN candidate, Suhaimi Sabudin, is a local and so could serve the constituency on a full time basis.

"Can the other candidate divide her responsibilities equally? Our candidate is here full time," he said in a press conference after the nomination process.

The Permatang Pauh by-election will see a four-way contest between Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail from PKR, Suhaimi Sabudin of Barisan Nasional (BN), Azman Shah Osman of Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) and independent Salleh Isahak.

All of them will go head-to-head in an intriguing contest which may now be widely seen a battle between experience and youth.

The poll was called after the seat was declared vacant when Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim failed to get a royal pardon for a sodomy conviction.

Echoing Muhyiddin was Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir who called upon the more than 71,000 voters to give BN a chance.

He said an MP should solve issues on the ground to make sure of the quality of life for the people and not only concentrate on national matters.

"Time, it seems for Permatang Pauh, has stood still," he said and expressed his confidence BN could bring development.

Meanwhile, PKR vice president and Batu MP Tian Chua urged voters from near and far to come out to cast their votes on May 7.
He said the party wants to continue their struggle for justice when it was set up some 15 years ago.

He said this contest is not a guaranteed win, despite the seat being widely viewed as a opposition stronghold.

"It will not be easy," he said a view mirrored by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng who said PR's chances stood at 50:50.

He described the contest as do-or-die for PKR as a lost here could mean the end of the national opposition alliance and also PKR.