The Barisan Nasional candidate for the Kuala Kangsar parliamentary by-election Datin Mastura Mohd Yazid apologised to the party machinery for not being able to join and help BN's campaign that is scheduled to begin on June 5.
Mastura, 55, said she took the decision as she is currently observing her four months and 10 days 'iddah' (grace period after the death of husband), as stipulated by Islamic law.
"It is mandatory for me to observe the iddah and hope that the party machinery, especially at the branch and polling district level can understand my situation.
"I want to apologise to all. According to the election practice of the party, as the person who has been nominated as the candidate, I should be with the party machinery and the people for the election campaign.
"If Allah wills that if I'm chosen as the member of Parliament, I will carry out the mandate given by the people to the fullest and as a continuation of what had been initiated by my late husband (Datuk Wan Mohammad Khair-il Anuar Wan Ahmad)," she said here today.
She said this via a video recording, screened after the announcement of the BN candidate and the launch of the BN machinery, by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, here today.
Mastura also thanked Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Ahmad Zahid and Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir for putting their trust in her.
"I am here only to continue my late husband's struggle, that is to serve and contribute to the people of Kuala Kangsar.
"This by-election is not about me, but it is about BN as the best platform to serve the people here," she said.
The by-election for Kuala Kangsar is being held following the death of her husband Datuk Wan Mohammad Khair-il Anuar Wan Ahmad in a helicopter crash in Sebuyau, Sarawak on May 5.
The Election Commission has fixed June 18 as polling day for the Kuala Kangsar Parliamentary seat while nomination day is set for June 5.
READ: BN candidate meets five elements of party
READ: Mastura Yazid, wife of former MP chosen as BN candidate for Kuala Kangsar by-election
READ: Najihatussalehah is Pas' pick for Kuala Kangsar by-election
Mastura's eldest son Wan Emir Astar, 26, said although he and his family were startled with the decision by the party leadership, he was confident that his mother was capable of taking on the responsibilityas she had always stood by his late father's side and had a better understanding of the needs of the Kuala Kangsar people.
Wanita UMNO chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil opined that Mastura's decision to limit her movements during the by-election campaign would not affect the party.
"I believe that voters in the constituency would understand that Mastura has to observe the iddah. However, voters need not worry because the Wanita machinery will keep in touch with her to inform about the developments of the campaign," she said.
Admitting that Mastura's absence would become a challenge for the BN machinery, UMNO Information chief Tan Sri Annuar Musa nevertheless said it was not a hindrance for the BN candidate, as she was a well known among the Kuala Kangsar people.
"We can also use the latest technology such as video conferencing and install big screens during the campaign in order to assist Datin Mastura to convey something to the voters," he said.
Perak MCA chairman Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon was confident that the Chinese voters would support Mastura as she has the same personality similar as her late husband.
Bernama
Sat May 28 2016
MASTURA: "I am here only to continue my late husband's struggle, that is to serve and contribute to the people of Kuala Kangsar" - BERNAMApic
SPR India tuntut maklum balas aduan terhadap Modi, Rahul Gandhi
Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya India hari ini memaklumkan pihaknya sudah meminta maklum balas daripada parti pemerintah Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) dan parti pembangkang, Kongres.
Penguin maharaja berdepan kepupusan akibat pencairan ais
Spesies penguin terbesar di dunia, penguin maharaja terus berdepan ancaman apabila habitatnya terjejas akibat perubahan iklim. Selain pernah disifatkan bakal pupus menjelang tahun 2050, saintis dari Pusat Penyelidikan British Antarctic Survey pada Khamis memberitahu perubahan iklim memberi kesan terhadap kecairan ais di wilayah beku Antartika yang menjadi habitat buat koloni penguin maharaja.
ANCC2024: Astro, NACSA bekerjasama anjur 'coding challenge'
Diilhamkan daripada komitmen Astro dan NACSA untuk memupuk langkah keselamatan siber yang proaktif, pertandingan itu juga bertujuan untuk menormalisasikan navigasi digital yang selamat dalam ruang siber.
Suhu cecah 42 Celsius, Bangladesh tutup semua sekolah sehingga Sabtu ini
Suhu panas melampau sehingga mencecah 42 Celcius memaksa kerajaan Bangladesh menutup operasi persekolahan yang melibatkan 33 juta pelajar di negara itu.
PM Haiti serah surat peletakan jawatan
Perdana Menteri Haiti, Ariel Henry akhirnya menyerahkan surat peletakan jawatan pada Khamis selepas tidak henti berdepan tekanan antarabangsa bagi mengawal kekacauan kumpulan pengganas di negara itu. Surat rasmi peletakan jawatan yang ditandatangani Ariel Henry diserahkan di Los Angeles dan dikongsi pejabat Perdana Menteri Haiti bersamaan tarikh majlis presiden peralihan ditubuhkan.
RTS JB-Singapura di landasan tepat
Perkambangan pembinaan Projek RTS Johor Bahru-Singapura dilihat berada pada landasan tepat.
Rakyat Israel sudah mula misi bina penempatan kekal di Gaza
Sekumpulan warga Israel yang bermalam di sempadan berarak memasuki Gaza pada pagi Khamis dengan matlamat untuk membuka penempatan kekal di wilayah itu. Dalam poster kumpulan itu yang tular di media sosial, tertera slogan 'tentera telah mendudukinya, maka kami akan menetap disitu'.
Malaysia sebuah negara selamat - Kedutaan AS
Kedutaan Amerika Syarikat di Malaysia menyangkal dakwaan dangkal Profesor Bruce Gilley yang mengatakan Malaysia adalah negara tidak selamat dilawati.
Memetik laporan Free Malaysia Today, pihak kedutaan berkata tiada perubahan kepada nasihat perjalanan yang kekal pada tahap satu, iaitu tahap paling rendah daripada empat tahap.
Memetik laporan Free Malaysia Today, pihak kedutaan berkata tiada perubahan kepada nasihat perjalanan yang kekal pada tahap satu, iaitu tahap paling rendah daripada empat tahap.
Menteri Luar Malaysia perkukuh hubungan dengan China
Menteri Luar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan mengadakan perbincangan substantif dengan rakan sejawatannya, Wang Yi, dalam lawatan pertama beliau ke China sejak memegang jawatan itu pada Disember 2023.
Kakitangan bakal terima tunggakan gaji dalam tempoh 30 bulan
Isu tunggakan gaji membabitkan 20 bekas kakitangan Kedah Agro Holdings Berhad (KAHB) selama sembilan bulan dijangka selesai dalam waktu terdekat selepas kesemua mereka akan menerima bayaran secara berperingkat dalam tempoh 30 bulan berjumlah RM337,000.
PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu: BN sokong mana-mana calon daripada Kerajaan Perpaduan
Calon yang dipilih berdasarkan persefahaman bersama dalam kalangan BN, Pakatan Harapan (PH) atau parti-parti komponen yang lain.
Teruskan perjuangan bela parti selagi hayat dikandung badan - Tajuddin
Katanya, matlamat beliau hanya untuk membantu parti UMNO kembali bangkit menebus kekalahan pada Pilihan Raya Umum ke-15 lalu.
Tengku Zafrul diberi tugas khas - Zahid Hamidi
Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz diberi tugas khas untuk menyusun strategi aktiviti politik di luar kerangka UMNO dan Barisan Nasional (BN).
Kerajaan pandang serius pihak main sentimen rakyat - Asyraf Wajdi
Mesyuarat sepakat agar kerajaan bertindak tegas menurut lunas-lunas perundangan dan tidak berkompromi dengan sebarang tindakan melampau yang boleh menjejaskan kestabilan negara ini.
BN hormati kerusi DUN milik rakan dalam Kerajaan Perpaduan, sokong bakal calon
BN menghormati kerusi DUN Kuala Kubu Baharu yang dimiliki oleh rakan parti dalam Kerajaan Perpaduan dan akan menyokong calon yang dipilih oleh Anwar.
UMNO bertemu akar umbi bagi perkukuhkan parti
Ia bagi memberi penjelasan terhadap isu-isu yang menjadi persoalan buat mereka bagi memperkukuhkan lagi parti itu.
Muhyiddin label kerajaan PH-BN ‘desperado’
Ahli Parlimen Pagoh itu turut mencabar kerajaan isytiharkan enam kerusi Parlimen dan satu kerusi Dewan Undangan Negeri Selangor dikosongkan.
BN sedia letak calon jika enam kerusi bersatu dikosongkan - Ahmad Zahid
Barisan Nasional (BN) sedia meletakkan calon bagi merebut kembali kerusi disandang Ahli Parlimen Bersatu sekiranya pengosongan enam kerusi berkenaan berlaku.
Berita tempatan pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Berikut adalah berita yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang Rabu, 28 Februari 2024.
Mahkamah tolak rayuan calon BN, Mas Ermieyati kekal Ahli Parlimen Masjid Tanah
Mas Ermieyati kekal Ahli Parlimen Masjid Tanah selepas Mahkamah Persekutuan menolak rayuan calon BN untuk membatalkan kemenangannya dalam Pilihan Raya Umum ke-15 (PRU15).