THE theme for Umno Kuala Nerus this year is 5-0 – a clearly defined  target to win the four state seats of Tepuh, Teluk Pasu, Seberang Takir and Bukit Tunggal, and the Kuala Nerus federal seat.
 
And the hall may have been adorned with party flags and delegates decked out in Barisan Nasional blue uniforms, but the temperature stayed low at the Gong Badak Sports Complex today.
 
Until Umno vice-president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi cranked up the speed towards the end of his speech by getting the delegates to rise to  their feet, some of the delegates appeared to be more interested in leaving or checking their phones.
 
“Stand up and rise up with me if you agreed that we can take back all the seats in Kuala Nerus. Only those who are still sitting disagree with me,” he blasted, as the entire hall stood up.
 
Earlier calls from division chief and Terengganu Menteri Besar Ahmad Rasif Abdul Rahman to retake all the state and federal seats in Kuala Nerus had elicited a lukewarm response.
 
“We must take all the seats in Kuala Nerus,” said Zahid.
 
“We are in power in Putrajaya and we are close to the prime minister. So if you need something, we can get it for you. But this can only be done if you work as hard as me and Prime Minister Najib Razak,” he said to louder cheers.
 
Rasif holds the only state seat, Seberang Takir in the Kuala Nerus district. He won with 1,510 votes. BN has never lost Seberang Takir which houses the largest army camp in Terengganu.
 
The Tepuh, Teluk Pasu and Bukit Tunggal seats are held by PAS representatives Hishamuddin Abdul Karim, Ridzuan Hashim, and Alias Razak respectively.
 
The margin of losses for Tepuh (229 votes) and Teluk Pasu (109) were under 2%, and Bukit Tunggal (652) under 5%.
 
Similarly, the Kuala Nerus federal seat was won by PAS Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali by less than 1% (610 votes) in a seat of 76,238 voters.
 
Rasif had tried to rally his division by comparing politics with the ongoing Kuala Lumpur Sea Games.
 
“Of all the sports in Sea, I most enjoy watching the team events as they display the team spirit of fighting for the same objectives and targets.
 
“When there is teamwork we can achieve something magical and special. The netball team that lost to Singapore slimly in 2015 won the gold medal this time with a big margin.

“Similarly the rugby 7s and archery teams also won gold medals”
 
He said this was achieved by team spirit and cooperation among the players, and urged the Kuala Nerus division to emulate the Sea Games athletes in the 14th general election. – August 25, 2017.