‘Even if 100% prepared, Umno will lose GE15 if perception of party stinks’
Public anger at PN govt could spill over to Umno if ties not severed, says Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek
Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek says while party machinery is important during elections, if public anger towards the government is high, the parties that are aligned with it will also face problems. – Bernama pic, July 13, 2021
KUALA LUMPUR – Perception, and not a lack of preparation, could be the cause of Umno’s downfall in the next general election, warned one of its Supreme Council members.
Without trivialising the importance of the party machinery, Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek said Umno stands to lose by prolonging its cooperation with the federal government, with public anger set to spill over to the largest Malay-based party.
His statement comes on the back of infighting among leaders on whether to withdraw support for the government, and following a claim by Umno election director Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman that the party is not yet prepared to face the national polls.
Shabery cited the 2018 general election and his former constituency of Kemaman, Terengganu, as the perfect examples of how election preparation alone does not guarantee success.
The former cabinet member told The Vibes how, at that time, a primed and ready machinery was not enough to save Umno, which was facing a support deficit due to allegations of rampant corruption among its top leaders, notably, its then president Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
In Kemaman, he said his team had even assisted affected victims hit by a major flood at the end of 2013 by providing aid beyond the usual food baskets.
“We replaced televisions, fridges and stoves for thousands of families, and provided 12,000 school uniforms for students,” he said, with the majority of the funds coming from donations and not government allocations.
Alas, he said, this proved to be insufficient as he was defeated in the 2018 general election – the first time he had lost in Kemaman under the Umno banner after four attempts – while Barisan Nasional suffered a disgraceful fall from power for the first time in history.
“Nationwide, many opposition candidates without any machinery won (their seats).
“It can’t be denied that machinery is important, but when public anger towards the government is high, the parties that are with them will also face problems,” he said, in an apparent reference to dissatisfaction towards the Perikatan Nasional administration today.
Shabery was asked whether he agreed with Tajuddin’s leaked remark made during Umno’s Supreme Council meeting last Wednesday claiming the party is ill-prepared for any election, and that it needs another year to strengthen its machinery.
Without trivialising the importance of the party machinery, Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek said Umno stands to lose by prolonging its cooperation with the federal government, with public anger set to spill over to the largest Malay-based party.
His statement comes on the back of infighting among leaders on whether to withdraw support for the government, and following a claim by Umno election director Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman that the party is not yet prepared to face the national polls.
Shabery cited the 2018 general election and his former constituency of Kemaman, Terengganu, as the perfect examples of how election preparation alone does not guarantee success.
The former cabinet member told The Vibes how, at that time, a primed and ready machinery was not enough to save Umno, which was facing a support deficit due to allegations of rampant corruption among its top leaders, notably, its then president Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
In Kemaman, he said his team had even assisted affected victims hit by a major flood at the end of 2013 by providing aid beyond the usual food baskets.
“We replaced televisions, fridges and stoves for thousands of families, and provided 12,000 school uniforms for students,” he said, with the majority of the funds coming from donations and not government allocations.
Alas, he said, this proved to be insufficient as he was defeated in the 2018 general election – the first time he had lost in Kemaman under the Umno banner after four attempts – while Barisan Nasional suffered a disgraceful fall from power for the first time in history.
“Nationwide, many opposition candidates without any machinery won (their seats).
“It can’t be denied that machinery is important, but when public anger towards the government is high, the parties that are with them will also face problems,” he said, in an apparent reference to dissatisfaction towards the Perikatan Nasional administration today.
Shabery was asked whether he agreed with Tajuddin’s leaked remark made during Umno’s Supreme Council meeting last Wednesday claiming the party is ill-prepared for any election, and that it needs another year to strengthen its machinery.
Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin says the views shared by Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman in the Supreme Council meeting are his personal opinions. – Bernama pic, July 13, 2021
Tajuddin, who is also a Supreme Council member, also questioned party members on whether their constituencies are truly ready to face a general election.
“If we pull our support (for PN), some of us will ask ‘what’s next?’. What’s going to happen? Do you want an election?” he was heard saying in the leaked audio.
Tajuddin also purportedly slammed the party leadership for deviating from its general assembly decision to only pull the plug on PN when the time is right. Umno, in a statement given by its president last week, instead said it is withdrawing its support for Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
On this, Shabery said he is tied to the Supreme Council’s oath of secrecy and is unable to comment on matters discussed during its meetings.
Meanwhile, Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the views shared by Tajuddin in the meeting are his personal opinion, adding that the only decision that matters is the one announced by the president after the meeting.
“There were various views that were shared during (the meeting), and we take note of every single one of them. But what’s important is the conclusion and decision that was announced after the meeting,” he told The Vibes.
This is in reference to the statement by party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi that Umno’s support for Muhyiddin is withdrawn with immediate effect, while calling on the prime minister to relinquish his position. – The Vibes, July 13, 2021
Tajuddin, who is also a Supreme Council member, also questioned party members on whether their constituencies are truly ready to face a general election.
“If we pull our support (for PN), some of us will ask ‘what’s next?’. What’s going to happen? Do you want an election?” he was heard saying in the leaked audio.
Tajuddin also purportedly slammed the party leadership for deviating from its general assembly decision to only pull the plug on PN when the time is right. Umno, in a statement given by its president last week, instead said it is withdrawing its support for Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
On this, Shabery said he is tied to the Supreme Council’s oath of secrecy and is unable to comment on matters discussed during its meetings.
Meanwhile, Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the views shared by Tajuddin in the meeting are his personal opinion, adding that the only decision that matters is the one announced by the president after the meeting.
“There were various views that were shared during (the meeting), and we take note of every single one of them. But what’s important is the conclusion and decision that was announced after the meeting,” he told The Vibes.
This is in reference to the statement by party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi that Umno’s support for Muhyiddin is withdrawn with immediate effect, while calling on the prime minister to relinquish his position. – The Vibes, July 13, 2021
Let's get real.... UMNO IS Bad Company.
ReplyDeleteBoth of them are bad losers and stupid. Still could not feel or decipher the Rakyat's disgust towards Umno's lust for power during these hard times.Leaders like them quickly forgot the shame they faced being kicked out during GE14, they still feel and think like the warlords they once were. Only this time their talks and boasts are empty and shallow and they they failed to realize their ship is sinking.
ReplyDeleteThe only "Bad Company" Umno is with now is the Court Cluster in their own party.Why these so-called leaders so blind to the fact Umno is this doldrums and messy situations because they not only did not kick out but keep on supporting this troublesome and tinted leaders.
ReplyDelete