Umno Selangor leaders dig in after Dr. M’s outburst
“Leaders in Umno Selangor were elected by the party during the general assembly. They can’t simply step down.”
Suresh Kashuerin, Free Malaysia Today
Stung by criticisms on Wed by former Prime Minister and Umno President Mahathir Mohamad, who suggested three new thrusts which target polls losers, Umno Selangor leaders are digging in.
Selangor Umno liaison chief Noh Omar, for one, is demanding that Mahathir among others explain his remarks that people see Umno as a party of the corrupt, by the corrupt, and for the corrupt. This is one of the points made by Mahathir in his blog posting, besides the need for polls losers to make way and for the Gen-Y to be the focus of the party.
“We are not implying that the corruption began with him, although he was the party president for 22 years,” fumed Noh Omar in degenerating into rhetoric and polemics. “When did people begin to label Umno as a corrupt party? During whose era did this begin?”
Noh wants specifics from Mahathir.
One clarification he seeks is whether Mahathir was targeting him personally.
“Which leaders in Umno Selangor does he have in mind? Leaders in Umno Selangor were elected by the party during the general assembly,” said Noh. “They can’t simply step down.”
“If he has me in mind, I was elected as Tanjong Karang MP. My majority increased.”
Noh hastened to add that while Umno Selangor welcomes criticisms from Mahathir, it must be constructive, and implied that they had to take his latest advice with more than a pinch of salt.
“I want to advise him. Be specific. We in Selangor are open to all. When did we ever stop anyone from joining?” argued Noh in implying that people were queuing up to join the party. “He should tell us whose membership we rejected. We are open to everyone.”
