'Like rubbish in Zahid's eyes', rues dejected Langkawi Umno

'Like rubbish in Zahid's eyes', rues dejected Langkawi Umno


The Langkawi Umno division has been working hard on the ground over the past four years to wrest the parliamentary seat from Pejuang chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

However, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi decided to ignore the five names submitted by the division and named Armishah Siraj as the candidate instead.

A dejected Nawawi Ahmad, who heads the Langkawi division and contested the seat in the last general election, said the “delegates feel like they are rubbish in the president’s eyes.”

“A poll by the division found that we are capable of taking back the seat.

“But when the president picks an outsider, the chances of winning appear bleak,” Nawawi (above) told Malaysiakini.

The president’s choice, Armishah Siraj, 58, had served as the private secretary to three Kedah menteris besar before this.

Armishah Siraj

The former Langkawi district land administrator has been entrusted with the unenviable task of knocking out his 97-year-old opponent, who is seeking to be an MP for a record tenth term in his home state of Kedah.

However, he could face a backlash from the Umno grassroots themselves, who according to Zawawi, disagreed with an outsider contesting the seat.

According to the division head, Langkawi Umno has 35 percent faithful numbers but this could decline due to recent developments.

“I do not want to say anything about the president’s choice but this is the grievance of disappointed delegates.

“We should have been able to win the seat even with Mahathir contesting because it will be a four-cornered bout at the very minimum.

“Furthermore, we found that the locals are dissatisfied with Mahathir’s service as an MP because it is difficult for the villagers to meet him.

“This is what happens when a non-local is elected,” he added.

In the 2018 polls, Mahathir won the Langkawi seat with a majority of 8,893 votes, defeating Nawawi and Zubir Ahmad of PAS.

Apart from Mahathir and Armishah, Kedah Bersatu chairperson Mohd Suhaimi Abdullah is also vying for the seat. Pakatan Harapan is expected to field a candidate as well.