MERSING: Umno is respecting the views of its veteran member, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, who urged that DAP avoid participating in the Nenggiri campaign, ahead of the polling day on Aug 17.
Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the views had merit because Tengku Razaleigh, fondly known as Ku Li, was the Umno Gua Musang division head and Nenggiri by-election director, as well as an experienced politician with a deeper understanding of local sentiments.
"We appreciate Ku Li's views that political parties in the coalition refrain from assisting in the Nenggiri by-election if the number of voters from a particular ethnic group in the area is low.
"Therefore the views must be respected. However, they were not meant to offend any political party, including DAP, that wishes to assist," he said after officiating at the Mersing Umno division meeting.
Present were Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom and Umno Mersing division head Mohd Youzaimi Yusof.
Yesterday, Ku Li reportedly told DAP to stay out of the Nenggiri by-election in Kelantan next month. He was reported to have said that there was no reason for leaders of a predominantly Chinese party to campaign in an area that is entirely Malay.
Umno's veteran secretary, Datuk Mustapha Yaakub, also reportedly said DAP's presence in Nenggiri was not proper due to the absence of a Chinese community, including in the Orang Asli villages.