KUALA LUMPUR – Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is a “selfish man” for insisting that a general election be called even in the event of a flood, DAP’s Charles Santiago has said.
The Klang MP took particular issue with the former deputy prime minister’s sole focus on mobilising election machinery and regaining federal power without a care for aid and efforts to save lives should a disaster strike during polling.
“Zahid should organise an Umno flood brigade to help people fleeing their houses because of floods, just like ordinary folks did (in previous floods), instead of asking people to vote.
“How can this guy be trusted to lead a country? Shameless,” he said in a series of tweets this morning.
This follows Zahid’s remarks yesterday, during the launch of Barisan Nasional (BN) Youth’s election machinery, that the coalition is ready to campaign during floods if the general election is held during the monsoon season.
Zahid, who also chairs the Barisan Nasional coalition, pressed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri to dissolve Parliament immediately after tabling Budget 2023 next month, saying it is the desire of BN’s leadership in each state that the election be held no later than this year.
He said Ismail Sabri Yaakob should “do what is appropriate” after tabling Budget 2023 on October 7 and ensure it has “goodies” for the people.
Santiago said Zahid’s insistence on holding a general election even during the flood season shows the latter’s desperate bid to have his criminal charges against him dropped.
He said those in Umno should be deeply ashamed of themselves if they allow Zahid to push on with his plan.
“But if they have an ounce of decency, they should find themselves another leader.
“To the rakyat, vote Zahid and his Umno buddies out in the next election. They don’t care about your welfare or your lives. Not even during floods, as Zahid has clearly demonstrated,” he said.
Muda president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman has also similarly slammed Zahid over his remarks, recounting how the massive floods late last year had cost property losses of RM10 billion, more than 50 deaths and over 500,000 people displaced.
“Imagine this year, floods + election?!.. Crazy!” Syed Saddiq said. – The Vibes, September 18, 2022
