CAMERON POLLS | Lim Kit Siang is afraid of Umno contesting in the Cameron Highlands by-election, according to Umno supreme council member Noh Omar.

He also told the DAP veteran not to make provocative statements such as asking MIC to quit BN if it has pride, should Umno contest in the seat.

“Actually, it is DAP which has no pride. DAP was willing to discard its 'rocket' logo during the last general election just to defeat BN.

“DAP also pawned its pride by choosing its former arch nemesis Tun M (Dr Mahathir Mohamad) as prime minister just so that it could be in power,” he added in a statement this evening.

Earlier, Noh said BN's chances of retaining its grip on Cameron Highlands would be better if the coalition fielded an Umno candidate.

He said this is based on the current situation where an Umno candidate would inspire more confidence based on the large number of Malay voters.

"However, what is more important, is maintaining the BN spirit in all component parties.

"We have to look at the current situation. To achieve victory, I feel we must field a candidate from Umno," he told Sinar Harian.

The Tanjung Karang MP said although Cameron Highlands is a traditional MIC seat, changes must be made for the coming by-election to bolster BN's prospects of winning the contest.

"We are not saying MIC is not qualified (to contest). But we must make changes in accordance with the current situation," he added.

Previously, MIC secretary-general S Vell Paari said there had been no requests from Umno to contest the seat.

Over the weekend, former deputy minister M Kayveas announced that he would contest in Cameron Highlands.

Kayveas leads one faction of MyPPP, which he claims is independent. The other faction, which is opposed to him vying for the seat, is still aligned to BN.

In the last general election, MIC vice-president C Sivarraajh won the seat in a five-way tussle, edging DAP's M Manogaran with a margin of about 600 votes.

Last November, the Election Court nullified the results due to the commission of corrupt practices and ruled that a by-election be held.

Of the 32,048 registered voters in Cameron Highlands, 34 percent are Malays, 30 percent Chinese, 22 percent others and 15 percent Indians.