Umno deputy president aspirant Muhyiddin Yassin told voters in Kuala Terengganu not to vote based on the looks of the candidate.
Is he really speaking to the right target group for the KT by-election or his message was really meant for the Umno delegates in the forth coming party election in March. He is pitted against two candidates who are considered more people friendly than him, Ali Rustam and Muhammad Taib.
Muhyiddin knows that he can't win the deputy presidency if the delegates pick their choice based on personality rather than capability. He may be the popular choice as Deputy Prime Minister if the votes is in the hands of the ordinary Malaysian but he can't be sure that he will be the one unless he is voted in as Umno deputy president first. That's the fact in Malaysian politics.
If that's the case, it proves that the the KT by-election has been used as a platform by the candidates for the Umno election to campaign for themselves rather than Umno by-election candidate Wan Warid. It is no wonder that the current KT by-election campaigning lacked the oomph and excitement that we usually sees in previous by-elections. Is Umno big guns savings their armoury and war chests for their own use later in March? Furthermore it does not brings any difference to them if Umno lose the seat, other than Wan Farid cannot be a deputy minster and Najib's losing face in view of him claiming the prime minister position in March.
On the other hand, what if Ali Rustam wins the deputy presidency? Will he resigned as Melaka Chief Minister and Bukit Baru state assemblyman to contest a parliamentary seat to enable him to be appointed as Deputy Prime Minister? If this happens, which Melaka parliamentary seat will be vacated for him to contest? Maybe swapping with his supporter Md Sirat Abu's Bukit Katil seat? - Loka
