Barisan fears no one: Muhyiddin

KUALA LUMPUR: The Barisan Nasional does not fear anyone in facing a by-election, said Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

“We have never feared anyone. This question of elections is a normal matter to be faced. Winning and losing is customary in contesting and we will continue to face this,” Muhyiddin, who is also the Education Minister, told reporters after visiting SMK Setapak Indah here.

He was commenting on a statement by PKR strategy director Saifuddin Nasution Ismail that Barisan was reluctant to contest in the Penanti state constituency by-election in Penang as it was the underdog.

Muhyiddin, who is also Barisan deputy chairman, however said the matter of contesting or not had not been decided.

He said the Umno supreme council meeting Friday will discuss the matter and that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak will also seek feedback from leaders of Barisan component parties.

Asked if there would be changes in Umno leadership in Friday’s meeting, Muhyiddin said: “The president will announce. Surely there will be changes as after elections, as usually done, there will be changes and renewal.

“What is important is that we strengthen our party. All this is to make our party’s performance better and stronger.”

On the issue of Umno’s leadership in Terengganu, Muhyiddin said he and the prime minister had understood the situation there after recently meeting leaders from the state.

“The president and I know what needs to be done to strengthen leadership there. If there are problems we do not wish to discuss in the open and we will resolve the problems as soon as possible.

“What is important is for party leaders and people’s representatives to give attention to the people’s welfare and interests,” he said. -- Bernama