UMNO has moved forward the date of its annual general assembly to December 4-7 to focus on the Tanjung Piai parliamentary by-election on November 16.

The general assembly was originally scheduled on Nov 13-16.

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today announced the date change which he said would allow Umno, a component of Barisan Nasional, to concentrate on the by-election.

“We will move all our machinery to Tanjung Piai,” he said after chairing a Supreme Council meeting.

He said BN had not decided on the candidate for the seat coveted by both MCA and Umno.

Yesterday, MCA postponed its annual general meeting which was due to be held on November 2-3  to prepare for the by-election nomination which falls on November 2.

The seat is traditionally given to MCA to contest, but the party lost the seat to Bersatu in the last general election.

The seat fell vacant on September 21 following the death of its incumbent, Dr Md Farid Md Rafik of Pakatan Harapan. – October 3, 2019.