Muhyiddin claims Umno is no longer ‘action’
By Clara Chooi, The Malaysian Insider
“Perhaps we made mistakes before but we have worked towards changing ourselves, towards repairing those mistakes. I believe that over the past two years until today, we have proven ourselves to the people.
“That is why I am saying that if the Prime Minister calls for snap polls tomorrow, there is no reason why we (BN) will not win Wangsa Maju with an even bigger majority,” he said.
KUALA LUMPUR, July 24 – Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin declared today that Umno and Barisan Nasional had eaten humble pie and was no longer as “action” as before, amid continuing speculation about snap polls.
In his speech when attending a “Juara Rakyat” programme at the Gombak wet market here this afternoon, the Umno deputy president claimed that the BN had proven itself over the past two years after its dismal performance in Election 2008.
“Why did we lose Wangsa Maju? Perhaps some people (here) had felt left behind… perhaps some were dissatisfied. They said we were a little action (conceited).
“But now, Umno and the BN are no longer action. Our appetites have changed, we go down to the ground, we meet with traders,” he told the crowd.
During the 12th general election in March 2008, the Wangsa Maju parliamentary seat was won by PKR’s candidate Wee Choo Keong. Wee however has since left the party to become an independent and is now a part of a five-member pact called Konsensus Bebas, comprising four other former PKR MPs.
Muhyiddin said that the BN admitted to its past mistakes and had now “changed”.
“Perhaps we made mistakes before but we have worked towards changing ourselves, towards repairing those mistakes. I believe that over the past two years until today, we have proven ourselves to the people.
“That is why I am saying that if the Prime Minister calls for snap polls tomorrow, there is no reason why we (BN) will not win Wangsa Maju with an even bigger majority,” he said.
He reminded the Wangsa Maju folk not to be swayed by PR because he claimed voting them in would destroy the nation’s future.
“I would like to remind you – do not be mistaken. They will promise you the sun, the moon and the stars but nothing comes out of it.
“They keep calling us a racist government but how can we be racist when there are people of all races in the BN? We are a government that is truly representative of the people.
“I want the people to be aware… do not destroy our futures by believing the accusations and allegations made by the opposition when in truth, they are the ones who do not have the ability to manage a government,” he said.
Muhyiddin cited Selangor, helmed by Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim of the PKR, as an example of what he claimed was a badly-run state government.
“Look at what happened to Selangor… they do not know how to handle the water issue, the sand issue. It is not that difficult.
“When you fail to solve a problem, you lose the people’s confidence, investor’s confidence. Yet, they claim they can do anything but in truth, ‘cakap mereka tak serupa bikin’ (their words differ from their actions),” he said.
With a smile, Muhyiddin then likened PR leaders to the “kakaktua” bird (cockatoo) as they were only good in talking.
“They can sing but in truth, they do not know what they are doing. Can we have confidence in these sort of leaders? Everyday, they travel the country, telling lies about the government.
“Everything that the BN does is wrong. But I am confident now that the people have begun to realise (the truth),” he said.
Muhyiddin claimed that BN had been consistent in its struggle for the people, pointing out that the very essence of the Prime Minister’s 1Malaysia platform was to place the people as top priority.
