UMNO and PAS will form a joint committee to ensure smoother execution of its election machinery for the coming Semenyih by-election, said Umno liaison committee chairman Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

Ismail said based on his experience in the last two by-elections in Sg Kandis and Seri Setia, the working relationship between Umno and Pas was not effective as they were focused on holding joint programmes.

“For the Semenyih by-election, it will be more complete. We will not just hold programmes together, but from the very start until voting day, we will identify voters who will support the Barisan Nasional candidate.

“Among other forms of cooperation, we will form a joint committee between Umno and PAS, which will include each party’s state leaders, to streamline our activities.

“We will also launch a joint election machinery. Not only at the national level, but also at the branch level,” he said at a joint press conference with PAS commissioner Sallehen Mukhyi at the Selangor Umno building today.

Ismail said that voter sentiments had changed since the May 9 general election, as voters begin to realise the failure of Pakatan Harapan in fulfilling its manifesto promises, specifically in lowering the cost of living.

“The people are so disappointed with the Pakatan Harapan government. They are suffering more with the price of commodities dropping and cost of living going up.

“This dissatisfaction can be seen in social media, so this time, we hope it can translate into votes.”

Sallehen said PAS remained committed to using its election machinery and members to campaign alongside Umno.

“Our focus is to ensure that 6,966 PAS votes, which we got in the last general election through our candidate, will be retained, and we will try to win over an additional 20% to support the Umno candidate.

“Our full machinery will be mobilised. We will move together… and we are confident that the Umno candidate, or whichever candidate we decide on, will win the Semenyih state seat,” he said.

Semenyih voters in Selangor will go back to the ballot box on March 2 to elect a new state representative in the country’s sixth by-election held less than a year after GE14.

The Election Commission (EC) fixed nomination day on February 16 while early voting will be held on February 26.

The seat fell vacant after assemblyman Bakhtiar Mohd Nor of PH died on January 11 of a heart attack. He was 57. – January 22, 2019.