UMNO will not take any action against Padang Rengas MP Nazri Abdul Aziz for declaring that he will campaign for Anwar Ibrahim in the Port Dickson by-election, said party chief Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Saying that he has no issues with the senior party man campaigning for the incoming PKR president, Zahid added he welcomes countering opinions in the party.

“Why do we need to take action against him (Nazri)? We have no problems if Nazri supports Anwar in Port Dickson.

“We encourage difference of opinions. Nazri’s remarks were his and as the Padang Rengas Umno chief, and do not represent Umno or BN. We respect his remarks,” Zahid said at a press conference after attending the PAS muktamar in Kuala Terengganu today.

On Thursday, Nazri said he will campaign for Anwar as he believes it is the best way for Umno to pave its return into the government.

“I don’t foresee Umno being in government in the near future but there is some common thinking among Umno MPs that we should come back into government as early as possible.

“The only way to do that is to work with PKR… so we should show some goodwill… if we want to form the government, let Anwar win,” he said.

Umno will decide after its supreme council meeting on September 24 if it wants to contest in the by-election which was forced by PKR to ensure Anwar’s return to Parliament.

The Port Dickson seat, previously known as Teluk Kemang, had been in PKR’s hands since 2008. For BN, it is traditionally contested by MIC, but the party has decided to stand down for this by-election. – September 15, 2018.