(April 28): The absence of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak on Barisan Nasional (BN) posters for the Permatang Pauh by-election campaign is not an issue, deputy prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said today.

He said it was more important for Umno's candidate, Suhaimi Sabudin to be featured in the party posters at the parliamentary constituency.

"It doesn't matter whose face is displayed on the posters. What's important is the candidate's picture.

"The prime minister is not contesting, even I am not contesting, my face is not on the posters," Muhyiddin told reporters after launching a RM400 million upgrading project in Seberang Jaya Hospital.

He was responding to a remark from PKR's strategy director and Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin that questions were being raised on the absence of Najib's photo from BN's campaign materials in Permatang Pauh.

"Is this an indication that Umno members agree with Dr Mahathir that Najib should go?" he said.

Sim also questioned if this was a sign that history would repeat itself with a prime minister stepping down not long after a by-election is held at Permatang Pauh, or whether Najib had become a liability or "toxic" to his party, following the many criticisms against his administration, especially by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

When asked whether Dr Mahathir’s attacks on Najib had influenced the BN campaign in Permatang Pauh, Muhyiddin said more focus should be given to the people's issues and questions that were relevant to the voters. – The Malaysian Insider