SEREMBAN – A stern and uncompromising message was issued to Umno members that there is no room for saboteurs in the state polls.
With a no-nonsense approach, party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi left no room for doubt as he urged Umno members to refrain from sabotaging their own candidates and to uphold the party’s integrity at all costs.
In a fiery address in Lenggeng, Negeri Sembilan last night, Zahid reminded party members that he and Umno state chief Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias have invested considerable effort in negotiating with Pakatan Harapan (PH) to contest the Lenggeng seat.
He said this hard-won opportunity should not be squandered, and any attempts to disrupt or undermine the party’s efforts will not be tolerated.
“No official report has been received of any sabotage attempts, but let me be clear: if any such acts are uncovered, we won’t even need to call for an investigation if there is evidence on social media, in video and audio recordings,” Zahid asserted.
Addressing Umno members after a ceramah organised by Lenggeng Umno, Zahid underscored the need to focus on consolidating support from both Barisan Nasional and PH grassroots, as well as undecided voters.
The success of Umno in the state election hinges on the united front it presents to the electorate, and any internal divisions or disruptions could prove disastrous.
Zahid also had a sharp warning for the opposition, cautioning them against employing double standards in making accusations of bribery.
In response to PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man’s call for guidelines from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), Zahid made it clear that Umno adhered to its own rigorous guidelines, rooted in the Election Commission Act 1957, to maintain the highest levels of transparency.
MACC chief Tan Sri Azam Baki had also previously stated that there was no evidence of corruption in Zahid’s pledge to increase youth grants in Terengganu, which he outlined in the party's election manifesto. – The Vibes, August 2, 2023
