AMANAH leaders today welcomed a former Umno Supreme Council member to its anniversary celebration, saying the views of the party’s former bigwigs are important as “they know what to do to lose an election”.

Poking fun at former Umno Supreme Council Syed Hamid Albar who was present at Amanah’s third anniversary celebration in Pahang today, party president Mohamad Sabu told the audience that the views of Umno veterans should be heard.

“It is because they know and they have said ‘If you want to lose, do what we did back then’.

“They can give us warnings because they know why they lost (in GE14),” said Mohamad, popularly known as Mat Sabu.

The crowd, including Syed Hamid, laughed at Mohamad’s quip.

Syed Hamid, who is a former home minister, had said he intended to join Bersatu after he left Umno in June.

He had served as foreign minister under Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Abdullah Ahmad Badawi from 1999 to 2008. His last government post was the chairman of Land Public Transport Commission, before he was replaced by scandal-ladden Umno leader Isa Samad last year.

Mohamad, who is defence minister, said he is confident that new members will contribute better ideas to the party.

He said he does not know where former Umno leader Mustapa Mohamad is headed, but he welcomed those who intend to join the party.

“And I am confident friends of Tan Sri (Syed) Hamid Albar who are watching us and are interested, I am confident they will also provide their views to us,” he added.

Mustapa quit Umno last week as he had lost faith in the party and its ability to win back the support of the public.

Mustapa’s departure leaves Umno with 50 lawmakers in the Dewan Rakyat. – September 22, 2018.