FORMER prime minister Najib Razak is to hit the campaign trail for Barisan Nasional in Cameron Highlands this weekend, midway during the by-election campaign ahead of polling on January 26.

BN machinery workers said Najib is expected to arrive in the federal seat in Pahang, his home state, on Thursday with his first stop in Kg Raja and leave three days later.

Pakatan Harapan candidate M. Manogaran said today he was not bothered with the presence of the former BN chairman, as anyone has the right to help an election campaign.

“It is his right (to campaign), I will leave it to the people to decide,” the DAP politician said after attending a Ponggal festival at the Sri Subramaniyar temple in Tanah Rata today.

Najib, despite facing 39 charges of corruption in relation to 1Malaysia Development Bhd, is active on social media where he regularly criticises the Pakatan Harapan government.

He is still Pekan MP and Pekan Umno division chief.

BN’s candidate in the Cameron Highlands by-election is Orang Asli first-timer, Ramli Mohd Nor. It will be a four-cornered fight, with two independents Sallehudin Ab Talib and Wong Seng Yee.

Manogaran also challenged Pahang Menteri Besar Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail to resolve issues faced by Cameron Highlands voters.

These included daily parking fees, difficulties obtaining temporary occupancy licences (TOL) for land, and hawker licences.

“The Tanah Rata assemblyman has raised these issues to the local council but to no avail,” said Manogaran, urging Wan Rosdy to meet the PH assemblyman Chiong Yoke Kiong over these matters.

DAP holds Tanah Rata, one of two state seats, in the Cameron Highlands federal constituency. The other state seat, Jelai, is under Wan Rosdy and is a BN stronghold. – January 15, 2019.