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(The Star) - Wanita Umno chief Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz clarified that as head of the wing it is her duty to head the members in the by-election here.
The issue of her heading the team should not be blown out of proportion as she had headed the wing’s election machinery in previous by-elections. “The only exception was during the Permatang Pauh by-election last August,” she said after a meet-the-people session here yesterday. “I was forced to delegate the duty (of heading the wing’s election machinery) to my executive secretary as I was recuperating from a knee surgery. “I am in good health this time and am very happy to lead the team here,” she said, adding that as the wing’s chief, her task was to ensure a Barisan Nasional victory in any election. An English daily had reported on Wednesday that the wing’s vice chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil merely nodded when asked by reporters why Rafidah was leading the team in Kuala Terengganu. MCA vice-president Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said the party had drawn up a two-pronged strategy to ensure a thumping victory for the Umno candidate. The party would aim to ensure Barisan supporters don’t swing to the opposition as well as convince the “fence-sitters” to vote Barisan. Speaking to reporters after visiting the state MCA headquarters and party by-election operations room here on Wednesday, he noted that the Chinese made up 11.4% of the voters in the constituency, with 20% living outstation. Liow said the party was in the midst of identifying the outstation voters and will go all out to encourage them to return to cast their votes on polling day. On the fence-sitters, Liow said: “We have to explain to them that Barisan is still the pillar of the community and that their needs and wishes will be fulfilled.” Asked whether recent racist remarks by Umno leaders would cause the Chinese votes to swing to the opposition, Liow said: “I don’t think it would affect the outcome much. The bond between Umno and MCA is very strong although there were hiccups caused by sensitive remarks (by some leaders). “The relationship between Umno and the MCA goes back to long before Merdeka, and we in Barisan have agreed to be sensitive to the feelings of other races and not to raise sensitive issues anymore.” In Kuantan, Pahang Umno chief Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob said the state Umno would abide by what was requested by their Terengganu counterparts. ”We cannot simply go there and do our thing,” he told reporters yesterday. “Terengganu has its own style and we cannot meddle in their affairs. Different states have different ways.”
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The Blogs 
The by-election is in UMNO's pocket!....and oh yah! Bring lots of your AP money too; yah!
