UMNO is banking on party unity and Malay support to win the Semenyih by-election following two previous defeats, said party leaders as the by-election reaches the midway mark.

Selangor Umno liaison committee chairman Mat Nadzari Ahmad Dahlan said in the previous Sg Kandis by-election, party unity was not strong as it had just gone through a party election.

Back then, Umno cooperation with PAS only existed for certain programmes, he said.

“Our strategy now is to maintain unity within the party. With the available strength and our understanding with PAS, I believe we can capture the Semenyih state seat.

“Our cooperation with PAS has already seen positive development and we hope it will translate into votes,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

During the Sg Kandis by-election, PKR candidate Mohd Zawawi Ahmad Mughni won by 5,842 votes against Barisan Nasional’s Lokman Noor Adam.

Nadzari said following the number of by-elections that have taken place since the 14th general election last May, BN will now choose candidates most well-liked by the community.

“We want to emphasise what the candidate can contribute to society. We can see our candidate is a family man and involved in the community,” Nadzari said, referring to BN’s Semenyih candidate Zakaria Hanafi, who has three children, two of whom are doctors and another who has completed his medical degree. Zakaria also has two in-laws who are professionals.

Sg Panjang state assemblyman Mohd Imran Tamrin also said that Zakaria’s family’s accomplishments show he is be able bring development to Semenyih.

“I know one of his in-laws, Murtaza Ahmad, who is a former classmate of mine at IIUM (International Islamic University Malaysia). (He is) a good, educated man with two degrees.

“I’m convinced that if a person is able to successfully manage his family, he will be able to manage the community around him, if given the chance,” he said.

Zakaria, 58, is up against Pakatan Harapan’s Muhammad Aiman Zainali, Parti Sosialis Malaysia’s Nik Aziz Afiq Abdul and independent Kuan Chee Heng in the coming polls.

Meanwhile, Selangor Umno Youth chief Rizam Ismail said they planned to spread the message among the youth that the federal government has failed to fulfil its promises to the people and not governing well.

“We will make comparisons. That is our strategy. It is time the people decide whether false promises were made to them all this while.

“The youth are becoming more aware that they are being cheated by the sweet words of Pakatan Harapan. The people need credible leaders and a government with a better service record, such as BN,” he said.

Semenyih goes to the polls on March 2. – February 21, 2019.