UMNO Youth chief Muhamad Akmal Saleh denied there had been protests among its members over the selection of Amizar Abu Adam as the Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate for the Pelangai state by-election. 

Muhamad Akmal said Pahang and Bentong Umno Youth respected the wisdom of the party leadership in determining the best strategy to win the election. 

“There is absolutely no protest from Umno Youth. There is no reason for us to protest against the candidate,” he told Bernama today. 

He was commenting on media reports that former Bentong Umno Youth member Haslihelmy DM Zulhasli is contesting as an independent candidate in the Pelangai by-election to protest BN’s decision to field Amizar. 

On September 23, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Haslihelmy had been stripped of his Umno membership after contesting as an independent candidate. 

The Pelangai state by-election on October 7 is set to be a three-cornered fight between Amizar, Haslihelmy, and Kasim Samat from Perikatan Nasional. – Bernama, September 24, 2023.