Umno gears up for Permatang Pauh polls

The party has been preparing for the by-election since last year's Court of Appeal decision on Anwar's case.

GEORGE TOWN: Penang Umno says it is determined to recapture the Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat in the upcoming by-election, now that Anwar Ibrahim will be forced to vacate it because of his conviction for sodomy.

Penang Umno chief Zainal Abidin Osman and Permatang Pauh division chief Mohd Zaidi Mohd Said said the party had been preparing to face the by-election since last year.

However, both admitted in separate press statements that it would be a tough electoral battle. The seat has been Anwar’s fortress since 1982.

“But we have a fighting chance,” said Zainal Abdin. “Whatever the end result, we will fight till the end.”

Anwar won Permatang Pauh in 1982 on his electoral debut as an Umno candidate and repeated his feat in the next three general elections.

After Anwar was jailed in 1998, his wife, Wan Azizah Ismail, won the seat for PKR in the 1999 general election. She went on to retain the seat in the next two general elections until she resigned as a MP in 2008 to pave the way for her husband’s comeback through a by-election. Anwar won the by-election in August 2008 and retained the seat in the 2013 general election.

Zainal said Penang Umno had been preparing to face a by-election since the Court of Appeal convicted Anwar last year.

With the Federal Court decision today reaffirming the decision, he said Penang Umno and Barisan Nasional would intensify their work to face the battle.

“We will wait for the official word on the by-election before finalising related matters,” Zainal said.

Zaidi said the Permatang Pauh Umno division had already mobilised its election machinery and was only waiting for the signal to move.

“I am confident that BN can register a remarkable result in the by-election,” said Zaidi.

On the Federal Court decision, Zainal said the people should respect and accept it.

Zaidi extended his sympathy to Anwar’s family members and urged them to be strong.