UMNO Akan Pertahankan DUN Slim

BAGAN DATUK, 18 Julai – Presiden UMNO, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi berkata parti akan mempertahankan kerusi Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Slim.

“Oleh kerana kemenangan (sebelum ini) dan ADUN UMNO yang mewakili Barisan Nasional (BN) maka adalah menjadi kewajipan kepada UMNO untuk mempertahankan kerusi DUN Slim,” katanya ketika menjawab soalan media selepas perjumpaan khas bersama Ahli Jawatankuasa UMNO Bahagian Bagan Datuk empat peringkat, di sini hari ini.

Sebelum itu, Ahmad Zahid turut mengambil kesempatan melawat dan mendengar taklimat pembinaan Masjid Tuminah Hamidi di sini.

Berhubung dengan pemilihan calon, Ahmad Zahid yang juga Pengerusi BN berkata sudah pasti parti akan memilih calon anak tempatan yang terbaik atas cadangan bahagian dan negeri.

“Kita belum meneliti mana-mana calon kerana Perhubungan Negeri (UMNO Perak) belum mengemukakan nama kepada saya selaku Pengerusi BN tetapi kita akan mengambil kira pandangan daripada UMNO dan BN Tanjung Malim terutama Cawangan-cawangan dan Pusat Daerah Mengundi.

“Kita juga akan mengambil kira calon yang terbaik pada kali ini bagi menggantikan Allahyarham Datuk Mohd Khusairi Abd Talib.

“Saya mempunyai pegangan bahawa keutamaan harus diberikan kepada calon tempatan,” ujar Ahli Parlimen Bagan Datuk itu lagi.

Tambahnya juga, jentera BN kini sedang bersiapsiaga bagi menghadapi pilihan raya kecil (PRK) DUN tersebut.

Untuk rekod, ADUN Slim, Mohd Khusairi, 59, disahkan meninggal dunia akibat serangan jantung pada jam 4.15 petang di Hospital Bentong selepas tiba-tiba pengsan ketika bermain golf di Awana Genting Highlands Golf and Country Resort sekitar 2.30 petang Rabu lalu.

Mohd Khusairi, menjadi wakil rakyat Slim selama empat penggal sejak 2004 dan berkelulusan Sarjana Muda Sastera (Kepujian) dari Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.

Jenazah Allahyarham selamat dikebumikan di Tanah Perkuburan Islam Felda Sungai Behrang, Slim River, Perak pada jam 9.20 pagi keesokannya selepas disembahyangkan di Masjid Al Rahmaniah Felda Sungai Behrang kira-kira jam 8.30 pagi yang diimamkan oleh anak sulungnya, Mohd Amirul Khamil, 30.

UMNO to defend Slim seat

BAGAN DATUK, July 18 – UMNO President Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the party will defend the Slim State Assembly (DUN) seat.
“Due to previous victory of UMNO assemblyman who represented Barisan Nasional (BN), it is the duty of the party to defend the Slim state seat,” he said when answering a media question after a special meeting with Bagan Datuk Division Committee Members here today.
Prior to that, Zahid also took the opportunity to visit and listen to a briefing on the construction of the Tuminah Hamidi Mosque.
Regarding the selection of candidates, Zahid who is also the BN chairman, said that the party would definitely choose the best local candidate on the basis of division and state proposal.
“We have to finalise any candidate because Perhubungan Negeri (UMNO Perak) has not submitted its name to me as the BN Chairman but we will take into account the views of UMNO and BN Tanjung Malim, especially the Branches and Voting District Centers.
“We will also consider the best candidate this time to replace the late Datuk Mohd Khusairi Abd Talib. I believe priority should be given to local candidates,” said the Member of Parliament for Bagan Datuk.
He also added that the BN machinery is now preparing to face the state seat by-election.
For the record, Slim ADUN, Mohd Khusairi, 59, was confirmed dead due to a heart attack at 4.15 pm at Bentong Hospital after suddenly fainting while playing golf at Awana Genting Highlands Golf and Country Resort around 2.30 pm last Wednesday.
Khusairi has been the Slim assemblyman for four terms since 2004 and holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
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