Perak Umno members fast for peace, stability

(NST) IPOH: Several thousand Umno members in Perak fasted yesterday with the hope that peace and stability will be restored in the Silver State.

 

Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said this was done quietly, unlike the 72-hour hunger strike organised by Pakatan Rakyat.

"We don't go around telling the whole world that thousands (of Umno members) throughout Perak are fasting.

"We pray that peace and stability will be maintained in the state," he said after launching the KPerak Walter Rhodes Global SSO centre here yesterday.

A breaking of fast function, to be attended by some 1,000 guests, will be held at the official residence of the menteri besar.

Zambry, who also fasted, declined to comment on the possibility of Pakatan Rakyat carrying out another hunger strike. "I don't want to be dragged into this or get deviated from my main task of developing the state."

Pakatan Rakyat, led by former menteri besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin and ousted speaker V. Sivakumar, started the hunger strike on Tuesday. It ended at 8pm yesterday.

Zambry urged all parties to stop harping on political issues and focus on developing the state.

"It's business as usual. Please don't believe what you read on the Internet. Come to Perak and see it (peace and stability) with your own eyes."