Don't take Rompin by-election for granted - Muhyiddin

The Barisan Nasional (BN) machinery has been reminded against taking for granted the by-election for the Rompin Parliamentary seat although the constituency is a stronghold for the party.

The BN deputy chairman, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, said the machinery, on the other hand, must work hard to boost support from the voters and thus increase the majority obtained.

"We know that Rompin has been a blue (BN) area for so long, but we cannot be complacent, (we) must increase the support, thus the machinery must work harder.

"This will be coordinated by (Umno vice-president) Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein (BN director of operations for Rompin by-election) and assisted by the (BN) state level and BN component colleagues to show to the people the unity and solidarity of the party," he said.

Muhyiddin said this to reporters after accompanying BN candidate Datuk Hasan Arifin to the Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Silver Jubilee Hall, here today for the nomination process for the Rompin Parliamentary by-election.

Also there at the press conference were Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, Pahang BN chairman Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob and BN candidate Datuk Hasan Arifin.

Muhyiddin said the BN would use the by-election as a platform to explain several issues raised by the opposition including the rising cost of living.

"The issues on the GST (Goods and Services Tax) as well as the price of rubber and oil palm cannot be refuted because they do not only occur in this country but also at the global level.

"It is our responsibility as the ruling government to give explanation. Like the GST issue, we have to understand that it is a necessity and it is aimed at providing benefits for the people," he said.

The deputy prime minister conceded that the implementation of the GST initially would inconvenience the people, but the complaints received would be explained.

Commenting on the BN voting targets for the Rompin by-election, Muhyiddin said he wanted the key performance index (KPI) for each of the 38 polling district centres (PDM) in the parliamentary constituency to increase the majority obtained for the BN.

He said every vote was important to ensure the continuity of the socio-economic development in the parliamentary constituency which had been achieved by the former Member of Parliament, the late Tan Sri Jamaluddin Jarjis.

Meanwhile, Muhyiddin was happy that the nomination process here went smoothly without any undesired incidents.

He said this demonstrated a good democratic practice adopted by the local residents.

The Rompin by-election on May 5 will see a straight fight between Hasan, who is the acting Rompin Umno division head who represents the BN, and the PAS candidate, Nazri Ahmad, who is the Rompin PAS division head and Pahang PAS Youth head.

READ ALSO: Rompin by-election: Straight fight between BN, PAS

The by-election is being held following the death of the incumbent MP Jamaluddin in a helicopter crash in Semenyih, Selangor on April 4.

In the 13th general election, Jamaluddin retained the seat that he held for almost six terms after defeating former PAS Wanita head, Nuridah Mohd Salleh, with a majority of 15,114 votes.

READ ALSO: Jamaluddin Jarjis, 5 others dead in Semenyih helicopter crash