UMNO must work hard to win two by-elections - Mustapa

UMNO should work hard to win the people's heart in facing the Rompin and Permatang Pauh Parliamentary by-elections, said its supreme council member Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed.

He said both by-elections were equally important and UMNO machinery needed to work hard to restore the confidence of the people to the party and to ensure Barisan Nasional's (BN) victory.

"We also have to be optimistic in facing with the two by-elections, therefore all party machinery must give their best for the party's survival," he told reporters here today.

He said Kelantan BN and UMNO had been mobilised to help in the Rompin by-election campaign.

Election Commission has set polling day for the Rompin parliamentary by-election on May 5, two days earlier than the Permatang Pauh by-election.

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The Rompin seat fell vacant following the death of incumbent Tan Sri Jamaluddin Jarjis who was killed in a helicopter crash in Semenyih on April 4.

The Permatang Pauh seat was declared vacant after its incumbent, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, was disqualified as a Member of Parliament after the Pardons Board rejected a petition for a royal pardon sought by the Opposition Leader's family over his conviction for sodomising his former aide, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.