KUALA LUMPUR: Umno has pledged its commitment to assist the unity government candidate from Pakatan Harapan, Pang Sock Tao, in the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election.

Umno secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said the matter was discussed during the party's Supreme Council meeting held today.

"With this, the party will deploy its divisions' resources from Selangor and Umno-led states to assist the candidate in the by-election," he said in a statement following the meeting, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

The Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election is being held following the death of its incumbent, Lee Kee Hiong, on March 21.

The state seat will be contested by Pang, Khairul Azhari Saut from Perikatan Nasional, Hafizah Zainudin from Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM), and Nyau Ke Xin, who is contesting as an independent.

In the same statement, Asyraf also said that Umno welcomed and fully supported the announcement made by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to increase the salaries of civil servants by 15 per cent starting from Dec 1.

"This announcement will certainly meet the long-standing hopes and aspirations of civil servants," he said.

Anwar made the announcement during the Labour Day celebration in Putrajaya on Wednesday.

The increase in civil servants' remuneration marks one of the highest in Malaysia's history.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/05/1045936/kkb-election-umno-pledges-commitment-assist-unity-government-candidate