Internal sabotage in Kuala Besut may lead to '16-16'?

Jul 16: A mobile text message from a local UMNO leader in Kuala Besut calling on BN supporters to vote for PAS’s candidate Azlan Yusof caught the attention of PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu, who said an internal sabotage was looming within UMNO ahead of the July 24 by-election.

“This is a SMS I received from a local UMNO leader asking people to vote for the PAS candidate. The purpose is to change (prime minister) Najib (Razak)’s mind for failing to appoint a suitable person to head Tabung Haji," Mat Sabu said in a speech during campaigning in Kuala Besut.

Najib’s decision to appoint Baling MP Abdul Azeez as chairman of the Hajj fund, replacing long-serving Abi Musa Asa'ari Mohamed Nor, drew flak from many quarters.

Mat Sabu pointed out that Terengganu voters were now in the 'mood for change', saying this could be seen from the increase in opposition gains from 8 seats in 2008 to 15 in 2013.

“The urban and semi-urban areas have changed, so this by-election we hope the Kuala Besut voters will make change, we must join the urban voters to change,” he added.

PAS adopted the theme ‘16:16 New Terengganu’ as the main thrust of its campaign in the battle for Kuala Besut, in reference to the possibility of a hung state assembly between Pakatan Rakyat and BN, which now has 15 and 16 seats respectively.