Chini by-election: I hope Tun Mahathir joins campaign but no - Najib

Former Prime Minister and Pekan Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Najib Razak expects Langkawi MP Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad would not be present to campaign in the N23 Chini by-election.

As the host, he said he was always ready to accept the presence of the former Prime Minister to come down physically with the Independent candidate.

"He (Dr Mahathir) had campaigned in Cameron Highlands, not only via video but he came down to Cameron Highlands.

"And we know the majority of the Barisan Nasional (BN) there increased even though Tun Mahathir himself came down.

"This time he didn't come down, we hope he comes down but no. He only uploaded a video in support of the Independent candidate.

"But he (Dr Mahathir) did not provide reasons to support the Independent candidate. Such remarks would not give confidence to the voters in Chini because they have become so used with the BN," he said.

Najib said the people in the constituency were aware of the progress that BN had brought in the past.

"In the context of our society, they understand that these Independent candidates cannot have any effect on their lives and do not mean anything.

"Because if we (the people) vote for the Independent candidate, our vote cannot give us any return," he said when met at Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Mohd Sharim Md Zain's program with the Orang Asli community in Kampung Tasik Mentiga in Chini on Thursday.