UMNO Leader Says By-Elections Due To MPs Deaths Are "God's Gift"
The politician called the by-elections a perfect opportunity for UMNO to gain momentum ahead of GE15.
By Katrina Khairul Azman — 25 Jul 2018, 04:39 PM
Yesterday, 24 July, UMNO Secretary-General Tan Sri Annuar Musa called the by-elections in Sungai Kandis and Balakong, which are taking place due to the recent deaths of their MPs, "gifts from God"
While speaking to a crowd of 1,000 Selangor UMNO members at the Jalan Siswi Kanan election centre, the politician said that God "wants to test Selangor," The Malaysian Insight reported.
Annuar's statement comes after the passing of Sungai Kandis state assemblyman Mat Shuhaimi Shafiei and Balakong assemblyman Eddie Ng
Mat Shuhaimi passed away from cancer on 2 July, while Eddie Ng passed away in a car accident on 20 July.
The politician called the by-elections a perfect opportunity for UMNO to gain momentum ahead of GE15
"Maybe God will decide to have more by-elections," Annuar said.
According to Malay Mail, he insinuated that this could soon take place in Langkawi, where Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is MP, and Bera, where UMNO vice-president Ismail Sabri is MP.
Deputy Women, Family, and Community Development Minister Hannah Yeoh has since responded to Annuar's remarks, calling them a "wicked proposition"
Former Bar Council chairman Dato' Ambiga Sreenevasan has also chimed in on Twitter, calling his comments "in exceedingly poor taste and cruel."
Meanwhile, Mahathir's son and Bersatu deputy president Mukhriz Mahathir said that, "Someone who is 93 years old could live for another 10 years to 100 or 103, or even 20 to 30 more years," Malaysiakini reported.