UMNO vice-president Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin has rejected rumours of a boycott by Tapah UMNO Youth against Barisan Nasional’s (BN) candidate for the Ayer Kuning by-election, calling the allegations a calculated attempt by the opposition to sow discord within the party.
Responding to speculation that the youth wing was unhappy with the candidate selection, Mohamed Khaled insisted that no such friction had been observed on the ground, and that all components of the party machinery — including Youth, Wanita, and Puteri wings — were fully engaged in supporting BN’s campaign.
“I was in Ayer Kuning. I saw the Youth, Wanita, and Puteri wings working together during nomination day. There were no signs of disunity,” Mohamed Khaled said during a press conference after attending an Aidilfitri event in Bandar Seri Alam, in Johor Bahru on Saturday.
He described the boycott talk as “deliberate misinformation” aimed at fracturing UMNO’s cohesion ahead of the crucial by-election.
His statement follows a similar rebuttal by UMNO president and BN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who yesterday also dismissed the notion of dissent within the Tapah UMNO division. He reaffirmed that all party wings remained united behind the chosen candidate, Dr Mohamad Yusri Bakir, who is also the Tapah UMNO division secretary.
In a separate statement, UMNO Central War Room Secretariat chief Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan expressed confidence in Dr Mohamad Yusri’s ability to represent Ayer Kuning, describing him as the most suitable candidate selected by the party’s leadership.
“Voters should support a candidate who has the backing of both state and federal governments — someone who can deliver tangible benefits to the people of Ayer Kuning,” said Ahmad Maslan, urging constituents to prioritise effective representation over partisan narratives.
Earlier, BN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has firmly denied claims suggesting discontent within the Tapah UMNO Youth wing over the party’s choice of candidate for the Ayer Kuning state by-election, asserting that the wing remains fully committed to the coalition’s campaign efforts.
Speaking after the nomination process for the by-election at Dewan Merdeka on Saturday, Zahid stressed that the Tapah UMNO Youth division, led by Fahmi Ahmad Jakhisi, has been consistently present and engaged in all campaign-related preparations.
“There’s no issue of a boycott from the UMNO Youth,” Zahid said. “Fahmi has attended every meeting, whether at the state or division level, and I am confident the youth wing will offer their full support to Ustaz (Dr Mohamad Yusri) as the BN candidate for Ayer Kuning.”
Zahid’s remarks come in response to media reports that some grassroots members of the youth wing were reportedly dissatisfied that their preferred representative had not been selected as the candidate for the by-election. The narrative sparked speculation of a possible lack of support from within the party ranks.
However, UMNO Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh quickly dispelled those concerns, making it clear that the wing has no intention of boycotting the election.
“The Youth will never boycott this by-election,” Muhamad Akmal was quoted as saying, affirming the wing’s loyalty to the party and its leadership's decisions.
The Ayer Kuning by-election, set for April 26, was triggered by the death of incumbent assemblyman Ishsam Shahruddin on February 22. Dr Mohamad Yusri Bakir, the Tapah UMNO division secretary, will represent BN in what is shaping up to be a three-cornered contest against candidates from Perikatan Nasional and Parti Sosialis Malaysia.
With unity and mobilisation across all party levels being critical in the lead-up to polling day, Zahid’s clarification aims to put to rest any internal discord and reinforce a show of strength from within the BN machinery.
The outcome of the by-election is expected to serve as a key indicator of voter sentiment in Perak, with all eyes on whether BN can maintain its foothold in the constituency amid a more competitive political landscape. – April 13, 2025
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