BN use moderate campaigning approach in Kuala Kangsar by-election - Annuar

Barisan Nasional (BN) will use a moderate approach in the campaigning for the Kuala Kangsar Parliamentary by-election as a show of respect for the month of Ramadan, said UMNO Information Chief Tan Sri Annuar Musa.

Even so, he said, BN would ensure that the message of its campaign was delivered clearly to all the voters.

The nomination process for the candidates will be held tomorrow and polling on June 18, while Muslims begin fasting for Ramadan on Monday.

"We have decided that all campaigns will be conducted moderately, stressing on brotherhood, ideal for all that is required in the month of Ramadan in terms of issues, actions and gatherings.

"We want to ensure that the campaign also reaches everyone, including the Chinese and Indians, our approach is to meet with the business sector, associations, clans, non-Malay non-governmental organisations," he told reporters after a gathering with MARA outstanding students at the Kuala Kangsar Mara College here today.

He also said that as a show of respect to BN candidate Datin Mastura Mohd Yazid, who is still in mourning, BN will provide various alternative methods for her to convey her message to the voters.

He said BN will provide three giant monitors mounted on a special lorry to convey her campaign message to the voters in Kuala Kangsar live as well as recorded.

"We will fully utilise the new media, this is the first time we are using this, the first time we are using a big lorry which is equipped with a stage, to deliver a speech," he said.

Asked if BN had any problems with a three-cornered fight or more, Annuar said BN respected the democratic process and did not stop any party and individual from contesting.

The Kuala Kangsar by-election is being held following the death of its Member of Parliament Datuk Wan Mohammad Khair-il Anuar Wan Ahmad in a helicopter crash in Sebuyau, Sarawak, on May 5.

The Election Commission had fixed the by-election to be held on June 18, with nomination day tomorrow.

On a separate matter, Annuar who is the chairman of Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) said beginning this year, it would send about 800 excellent students to universities ranked among the top 50 best in the world.

He said this was in line with MARA's aim of transforming more quality graduates into experts in various fields once they returned to the country.

"We have identified 50 universities...(but) we will give allowances for universities which are not in the top 50 ranking, but it depends on the studies, such as physics," he said.