Khaled hopes Umno supporters will not waste their votes during by-elections

MUAR - Umno hopes that its loyal supporters will not waste their votes by choosing wrongly during the Pulai parliamentary and Simpang Jeram state by-elections on Sept 9, Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said today.

He added that although the by-election results would neither change the federal nor state governments, voters should pick a representative who is aligned to both governments to retain the momentum of development.

"Voters shouldn’t waste their votes electing an ineffective representative, four years just relaxing...no need to be in the constituency, no need to bother about voters, no need to solve problems.

"But if we choose a representative with ties to the government, there’s no excuse for him to not help voters. We need a representative who really is effective in serving the people,” the Johor state liaison committee chairman said.

He also expressed his confidence that Barisan Nasional voters in both constituencies understood the importance of making the unity concept by the Unity Government a success in the interests of the multiracial and multireligious country.

"We need to accept the benefits from the diversity to bring more progress to the country,” he told reporters after a walkabout around Taman Jeram Mulia, here today.

The by-elections are being held after the seats fell vacant following the death of their incumbent, Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub Salahuddin on July 23. - BERNAMA