Pakatan Tanjung Piai by-election debacle due to ‘internal sabotage’

Alfian Z.M. Tahir Alfian Z.M. Tahir Updated 6 years ago · Published on 17 Nov 2019 3:49PM · 4 Comments

Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan tells the party faithful not get involved in Pakatan Harapan’s internal squabbles, while encouraging them to prepare for the next battle. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Afif Abd Halim, November 17, 2019.

APART from failing to deliver its election promises, Pakatan Harapan’s defeat in the Tanjung Piai by-election yesterday was also due to internal sabotage, Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan said.

Mohamad said this was evident form the controversies that dogged PH throughout the by-election, such as the video clip of remarks by Bersatu’s Perak Menteri Besar Ahmad Faizal Azumu against allies DAP.

In the run-up to the by-election, there had also been discord between DAP and Bersatu over Sg Pelek assemblyman Ronnie Liu’s statements against Bersatu and its chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is also Prime Minister and head of PH.

“They lost because of sabotage. Friends in PH sabotaged Bersatu, they want Bersatu to lose,” he said, claiming that DAP, PKR and Amanah had wanted Bersatu to lose in the by-election.

Bersatu candidate Karmaine Sardini had represented PH in Tg Piai in a six-way race. He lost to BN’s Wee Jeck Seng from MCA by a 15,000-vote margin.

Mohamad was speaking at the closing of a course for Umno Youth’s Skuad Sabil, a uniformed volunteer group.

He told the group not to get carried away with BN’s victory in Tg Piai and to prepare themselves “for the next battle”, be it a by-election or the general election, which must be held by 2023.

“In battle sometimes we win, sometimes we lose. That is part of the struggle. Yesterday (Tg Piai) was a huge victory for us but we must remain calm and keep our momentum going.”

He also urged the youth wing not to get involved in PH’s internal fights.

“If they want to fight amongst them let them be. We must not get involved. We must prepare ourselves.”

In the run-up to polling, PH had to deal with Faizal and Liu’s remarks, separate incidents that together underscored the tension between the two allies.

Liu wrote an article criticising Dr Mahathir’s leadership and claiming that PH could still form the government without Bersatu.

Faizal told villagers in Tg Piai that he was fighting a battle against DAP in Perak as the MB, defending Malay land and Islam.

Each case was brought to the leadership of their respective parties, and no further action was taken. – November 17, 2019.

Sign up or sign in here to comment.

Comments

  • Very bad of him. He has changed after losing his MB post.

    Posted 6 years ago by Penganalisa L · Reply

  • We have ministers who do nothing except apple polishing. What do you expect?

    Posted 6 years ago by Adrian Tan · Reply

  • Mat is saying Bersatu sabotaged the by-election. The issues raised in the sabotage is racial in nature, typical traits of UMNO. So, slap your own face.

    Posted 6 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • UMNO wants TDM and Bersatu (UMNO 2.0) to continue leading PH, as that would lead to certain defeat for PH in GE15.

    Posted 6 years ago by Arul Inthirarajah · Reply