Defections caused by lack of identity in Umno-BN, says Khairy

Nabihah Hamid Nabihah Hamid Updated 5 years ago · Published on 24 Jun 2018 4:35PM · 5 Comments

UMNO presidential hopeful Khairy Jamaluddin said today the Malay party and Barisan Nasional coalition were both in desperate need of clear identities, warning that if the situation is left unchecked, more lawmakers will defect to the ruling government.

The Rembau MP, who is vying for the top post in Umno’s polls this Saturday, said he believes he can lead the party in fulfilling this need.

“The Umno-BN leadership must have a clear identity so that members of parliament don’t ‘hop’ (to other parties).

“Among the reasons I am running for president is because I want to provide a clear direction. Otherwise, you will see MPs defecting,” Khairy told The Malaysian Insight at Mohamad Hassan’s Hari Raya open house in Kampung Tanjung Rantau, Negri Sembilan, today.

Khairy was responding to Bagan Serai MP Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali’s announcement that he had left Umno.

Noor Azmi is now an independent MP, but said he planned to join Bersatu.

His defection has left Umno with 53 seats in parliament, with BN controlling 56 in total. 

The former youth and sports minister also slammed defections as an act of betrayal.

“These kinds of moves are a betrayal of the people’s choice. I hope no other BN MP follows suit.

“The people chose us to be the opposition. So, to move and ‘save yourself’ by hopping is irresponsible.”

Umno vice-presidential hopeful Mohamad, meanwhile, said that those who leave the party lack the commitment to stay true to its struggles.

“Those who join Umno to seek opportunities will surely run when Umno is no longer in power,” he said.

“As a democratic country, we can’t say we don’t accept (defections). For those who want to accept it, just do so,” he said.

On the move by former BN component parties to quit the pact, Mohamad said Umno must focus on rebuilding itself before turning its efforts on the coalition.

“We can no longer expect Umno to strengthen MIC and MCA because we’re no longer in the government. So, we need to strengthen our party first and, once we are strong, the coalition will be strong.” 

“This coalition is not a life-and-death arrangement. If they feel that they don’t want to join us, it’s up to them.”

Apart from the Bagan Serai lawmaker, 10 division heads from Rasah and Rembau have also quit the party, reported Malay-language daily Berita Harian.

Yesterday, Gerakan announced it was leaving BN, barely two weeks after Sarawak BN component parties quit the pact to form their own independent coalition. – June 24, 2018.

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Comments

  • After 70 years as a political party, or UMNO Baru is 30 years old UMNO-BN lack identity??? UMNO Baru cannot admit what its identity is. Descendent of Pencuri Lampu Ajaib that got kicked out by the original Pencuri themselves. The defectors lack faith in the real UMNO Bary identity, they have no stamina to be on the losing side and rightly so..

    Posted 5 years ago by Bigjoe Lam · Reply

  • UMNO and the opposition should push for the enactment of the "anti-hopping" law. For years, PR (then PH) were vocal for its enactment but now that they are the government, they had gone completely SILENT. Hypocrites all of them !!!!

    Posted 5 years ago by Malaysian First · Reply

  • The former youth and sports minister also slammed defections as an act of betrayal. There a saying U must eat raw chillie to its value......KJ when defections happen in Perak in 2009 MATA BUTAH as youth leader where were you? stupid idiot at NOW U CALL IT BETRAYAL .....AT THAT TIME CALLED JUICE PERAK UNMO GOT IN UMNO BAG NOW JUICE MP MOVING OFF.....KARMA BRO KARMA ...WHEN CALLED FOR PARTY HOPPING IN PARLIAMENT UMNO YOUTH LEADER KEPT SMOOTHING IN HIS MOUTH...KARMA BRO KARMA ...HOWEVER I APPERCIATE U TO BRING UMNO MULTIRACIAL . GOD BLESS.

    Posted 5 years ago by Mohanarajan murugeson · Reply

  • "These kinds of moves are a betrayal of the people's choice. I hope no other BN MP follows suit. The people chose us to be the opposition. So, to move and ‘save yourself’ by hopping is irresponsible.” At last someone from UMNO finally understands how it feels to be betrayed when Dato' Hee Yit Foong decide to switch over to BN to rob Pakatan Rakyat of their win in Perak.

    Posted 5 years ago by Roger 5201 · Reply

  • “This coalition is not a life-and-death arrangement. If they feel that they don’t want to join us, it’s up to them.” is the clearest message to MIC and MCA so far just how "important" the are to the coalition called Be End. Gerakan has left with what dignity they have left. What more are the second and third biggest party within Be End waiting for?

    Posted 5 years ago by Roger 5201 · Reply