I do not sponsor Independent candidate - Zaini

BENTONG - Bentong Umno acting chief Datuk Seri Mohamad Zaini Salleh denies claims of sponsoring Independent candidate Haslihelmy DM Zulhasli for Pelangai by-election.

He insisted that he had never contacted or had any discussion with Haslihelmy about the move.

He stressed that the candidate's statement had clearly affected his reputation and that it was malicious how the contestant had dragged him over after supposedly being disappointed with Umno leadership's decision in the candidate selection to represent Barisan Nasional (BN).

"I am not sponsoring him to run as an Independent candidate in Pelangai. I hope that the media and also voters in Pelangai state assembly are not influenced by what this Independent candidate said or uttered.

"But we (need) to remember that this independent candidate had already taken the nomination form at the end of last August. If I am not mistaken, on August 29, he (Haslihelmy) had taken the form at EC (Election Commission) in Kuantan, and of course, he did not know who was named by the party leadership to compete in this list of six people," he said in a video today.

Yesterday, Haslihelmy claimed that the act of running for Pelangai was a protest against Umno leadership who had nominated a recycled candidate.

The Pahang Children's Voice Association (PSAP) president expressed his disappointment to the media and claimed that he would not contest if Zaini had become a candidate.

Commenting further, Zaini said that if the top party leaders had chosen him to compete for the state seat, it would be possible that some other reasons would be used by the independent candidate.

"Therefore, I think that this Independent candidate linking my name is a personal slander to me and the party (BN). I consider (this) a malicious and an unreasonable slander," he said.

He admitted that he was not disappointed when the party chose Datuk Amizar Abu Adam as a candidate to contest in the poll.

"I had already said at the event that I, as Bentong Umno acting chief want to ensure that in this by-election in Pelangai, we cannot lose,

"We are not willing to lose in Pelangai. I hope that the entire machinery at the branch level and the support from the adopted state can give a huge boost to ensure that Pelangai belongs to Umno and BN," he added.