Better for UMNO to lose in Bagan Pinang, says Tengku Razaleigh
October 11, 2009
Better if UMNO lost in Bagan Pinang, says Tengku Razaleigh
Former UMNO vice-president Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah said a victory for Isa Samad in the Bagan Pinang by-election would translate into an endorsement for corruption.
“Much as the likely win by Isa would be welcomed by the leadership after the string of losses UMNO has suffered, I am afraid what the nation needs is for UMNO to lose again. This is because again we have fielded a candidate proven to be corrupt. A win by Isa would translate into an endorsement of corruption-as-usual within the party and the government that it leads,” he said.
“For the good of the party, the dignity of the Malay community it claims to represent and for the sake of the nationwide reform in governance and politics that we must undergo, it would be better if UMNO lost today, and used the loss to begin internal reform.
“Corruption is the scourge of the country. UMNO is a step away from being identified with that scourge,” added the veteran politician.
From the onset, Tengku Razaleigh had voiced his dissatisfaction against UMNO’s decision to field Isa, the former menteri besar of Negeri Sembilan. Isa was suspended from UMNO in 2004 after being found guilty of money politics during the party polls.
Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad was also unhappy with the choice.
““For the good of the party, the dignity of the Malay community it claims to represent and for the sake of the nationwide reform in governance and politics that we must undergo, it would be better if UMNO lost today, and used the loss to begin internal reform.” KuLi
Let Bagan Pinang be a wake-up call for UMNO?? But UMNO has been in a Catch-22 situation for a while now.
Mr Bean - October 11, 2009 at 2:31 pm
New Yorker Bean,
No more Catch-22. It is super 69 for UMNO. How will the soldiers with postal votes decide, that will be the clincher today, October 11, 2009. They have been told by their superiors like Minister of Defence Zahid Hamidi and their chaplain (imam) that it is their duty to vote UMNO-BN; they are promised some goodies. 4,000 postal votes in a constituency of 13,600 + registered voters, that is significant.
If the voter turnout is good and some postal votes, say 30%, go for Pakatan Rakyat, Isa can be sent to the political retirement home sooner than he himself can imagine. Right now the odds are 50:50. Let hope the voters accept Mahathir’s advice that they should not vote for a corrupt candidate.–Din Merican
dinobeano - October 11, 2009 at 3:59 pm
Let’s hope the voters of Bagan Pinang decide to pulled an Ong (as what the MCA delegates did) on Isa .
It’ll be one hell of a spectacle if that happens , need not mention the migraine’s it’ll give Jibby
Danildaud - October 11, 2009 at 4:15 pm
A big vote for UMNO need not necessarily mean a blanket endorsement of corruption. It may also be a signal that voters reject PAS’s role so far in the coalition.
Isa Manteqi - October 11, 2009 at 7:29 pm
It is more likely to mean the Malay voters don’t buy into the rhetoric of Anwar Ibrahim and his boys in PKR (former UMNO members) privately, of course, that they will act to ensure a level playing field for those among them who need it.
Mr Bean - October 11, 2009 at 10:35 pm