UMNO president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi hopes the party will be given a walkover in the Gerik parliamentary by-election in Perak, in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Zahid said he also hopes that Bersatu and PAS will allow Umno to defend its seat should it be contested.

The support of both parties is necessary for Umno to triumph again in its Gerik stronghold, he told reporters after attending a “Ziarah Kasih” programme in his parliamentary constituency of Bagan Datuk today.

The Election Commission has set January 16, 2021, for the Gerik by-election following the death of its incumbent Hasbullah Osman, 63, on November 16 due to a heart attack.

In the 13th general election (GE13), Hasbullah defeated Norhayati Kasim of PAS by 6,216 votes and retained the seat in GE14 with a majority of 5,528 votes against PAS’ Mohd Dahalan Ismail and Bersatu’s Ibrahim Mohd Hanafiah.

On the potential candidate, Zahid, who is also Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman, said the party will field a local candidate as that individual would have better knowledge and understanding of the problems in the area.

The Umno president said he will let Perak Umno liaison committee chairman Saarani Mohamad hold in-depth discussions with the Gerik division on the suitable candidate to contest in the by-election.

“We will choose the best among the best. We will shortlist the names when the Gerik Umno division provides them to the state liaison committee and then to me as BN chairman to be finalised,” he said.

On the possibility of the by-election being postponed due to emergency as happened in Batu Sapi, Sabah, Zahid said it may not happen as Gerik is in a Covid-19 green zone.

Meanwhile, Zahid said Perak Umno liaison committee secretary Azian Osman has been appointed as deputy chairman to replace Hasbullah. – Bernama, November 28, 2020.