UMNO and Barisan Nasional (BN) are not intimidated by Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman Anwar Ibrahim’s impending candidacy in Tambun in the coming general election, said Perak Umno and BN chief Saarani Mohamad said.

He said BN had been making thorough preparations for an all-out battle, including taking on heavyweights from opposition parties.

“I also believe voters have learnt from their mistakes (in the last general election),” he said today.

“Tambun people would not be so easily deceived by Anwar, who has been rejected by voters in the Malacca, Johor and Sarawak state elections.

“I’m not worried about PH’s decision to field Anwar in Tambun. I’m not having any sleepless nights because I know our party machinery is ready to pull in a lot of votes in the general election.”

Saarani, who is caretaker Perak menteri besar, told reporters this after attending a programme with the family of K. Devagi, 57, in conjunction with Deepavali in Jalan Lama Kampung Chengai, Sungkai, Tanjung Malim.

Asked on the possibility of Tambun Umno division chief Aminuddin Md Hanafiah contesting the Tambuan seat, Saarani said a final decision has yet to be made.

Last Saturday, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Aminuddin is expected to be picked as the BN candidate for Tambun, as proposed by the Perak Umno liaison committee.

In the 2018 general election, Bersatu deputy president Ahmad Faizal Azumu won the Tambun seat on the PH ticket in a three-cornered fight with BN and PAS, polling 38,661 votes to win with a majority of 5,320 votes.

When asked on talk that Umno Youth chief Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki might contest in the Gerik parliamentary seat, Saarani merely said BN will not field any “parachute” candidate.

In the 2018 polls, BN’s Hasbullah Osman won Gerik with a 5,528-vote majority but the seat has remained vacant since his death in November 2020. – Bernama, October 24, 2022.