UMNO must help campaign for PAS in Port Dickson to strengthen the relationship between the two Malay-based parties, said Umno grassroots leaders.

Although Umno has called for a boycott of the October 13 by-election, grassroots leaders said there must be continuity of the cooperation which started in the Sungai Kandis by-election in August.

They, however, agreed that it was up to the party leadership if they wanted to campaign for PAS in Port Dickson or to stay out completely.

PKR president-elect Anwar Ibrahim will contest the seat against former Umno strongman Isa Samad, former air force officer Mohd Nazari Mokhtar from PAS.

Parti Rakyat Malaysia and independent candidate Stevie Chan Keng Leng also announced their candidacy.

Nomination day for the by-election is today while polling will take place on October 13.

Kota Raja Umno chief Raof Mokhtar questioned if the party wanted Anwar to win or lose.

“That is the main question. If we want Anwar to win, our decision to stay out of PD is the correct one. Let Anwar ‘fight’ with Dr Mahathir (Mohamad),” he told The Malaysian Insight.

He added that giving Anwar an easy win can be Umno’s political strategy to balance the power and influence of Dr Mahathir.

He, however, said Umno must help PAS in its campaign to “show unity among opposition parties”.

“With PAS announcing the candidate for Port Dickson, it’s better for Umno to hit the ground to campaign for them.

“If we say we want to work with PAS, we might as well go all out to support them,” Raof said.

On Monday, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced that Umno and Barisan Nasional would not contest in the Port Dickon by-election because the “seat was vacated to fulfill the political ambitions of one person”.

The Port Dickson by-election was called after its incumbent MP, Danyal Balagopal Abdullah, vacated the seat to allow Anwar to contest to make his return to Parliament.

Port Dickson Umno chief Mohd Faizal Ramli said his side was ready to move their machinery to support PAS if such instructions came from party headquarters.

“Until then, we will not do anything, as the Supreme Council had decided to boycott the Port Dickson polls,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

“We have no issues with moving our machinery. We will just follow orders. So far, there have not been any new instructions.

“Our members will not go out to vote on voting day. We have about 13,000 members,” Faizal added.

Umno Supreme Council member Lokman Noor Adam said Umno should not be involved in any campaigning at all in Port Dickson, and allow Anwar to win and become the next prime minister.

He said Umno would be in bigger trouble if Anwar lost, as it would mean PKR deputy president and Economic Affairs Minister Azmin Ali would become stronger in PKR.

“If Anwar loses in PD, Umno will face a bigger issue, as support for Azmin will increase in PKR.

“PKR MPs will then move away from Anwar to support Azmin, as the former would no longer be eligible to become the prime minister,” he said, strengthening the belief that Umno leaders are confident of working out a deal with Anwar to return to power in some capacity.

Lokman also hoped PAS would understand Umno’s strategy of boycotting the PD polls, as it would be unwise to stop Anwar’s rise to become the prime minister.

Former Umno vice-president Hishammuddin Hussein said he personally disagreed with the party’s decision to boycott the by-election. – September 29, 2018.