Umno loyalists call Dr Mahathir 'DAP puppet'

Muzliza Mustafa Muzliza Mustafa, Irfan Hussain Updated 6 years ago · Published on 6 Dec 2017 7:03AM · 6 Comments

Prime Minister Najib Razak (second from left) inspects the parade at the opening of the Umno general assembly in Kuala Lumpur, yesterday. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Najjua Zulkefli, December 5, 2017.

DAP is the smallest among four parties in Pakatan Harapan, but Umno believes it is the dominant voice in the coalition.

That Dr Mahathir Mohamad is chairman of the coalition and may even reprise his role as prime minister should the opposition seize power does little to change their minds that Malay power is being eroded by the largely-Chinese DAP.

Party rhetoric is so ingrained that Umno grassroots leaders believe their former strongman is a mere puppet of DAP, the bogeyman for party rank and file.

While some acknowledged the former Umno president’s contributions and still professed respect for him, he was now to them a tool of DAP.

DAP puppet

Mother of two, Kamariah Mohd Yusof, 35, said DAP would not let Dr Mahathir rule.

“DAP will be the leaders no matter which party they work with. Even with Dr Mahathir in the opposition, DAP is still the leader. We know how the game is played. 

“Lim Kit Siang and Lim Guan Eng have planned this for a very long time. After putting Dr Mahathir up there (as prime minister) I don’t think they will stop there,” said the Teluk Intan Umno Puteri secretary on the sidelines of the Umno general assembly.

She added that DAP needed to have a Malay face because Malays were the majority.

“Dr Mahathir is just a puppet. Nothing more.”

Kamariah said she was sad and taken aback when Dr Mahathir, Muhyiddin Yassin and Mukhriz Mahathir formed Bersatu to challenge Umno.

But after reading and listening to both sides, she concluded that Dr Mahathir had left the party because of his personal agenda.

“He was sulking. He left the party because he loves Malaysia? No. Only Umno-Barisan Nasional can lead Malaysia,” said Kamariah. 

Another grassroots leader from Subang also felt DAP was pulling Dr Mahathir’s strings.

“He is definitely DAP’s puppet. He used to tell us that DAP was the main enemy and could be trusted. But he’s now supporting them,” said Wanita Subang information chief Herny Azura Ghafar.

“The way I see it, the opposition and DAP are using Dr Mahathir to appeal to young Malay voters as he can influence them.”

Air Hitam delegate Abdul Khalid Saad said there was no difference between the opposition and Dr Mahathir.

“They are using one another to gain power,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Party above personality

“When Dr Mahathir was in power he said different things about DAP. But when he is not happy with prime minister Najib Razak, he becomes all chummy with DAP,” said another delegate, Basiah Md Said.

“He even shook hands with them. Leaving Umno because of his love for the country? I don’t think so. He has a personal agenda and his fight with Najib is a personal dispute.”

The 71-year-old Umno Wanita Tebrau comittee member said she used to respect Dr Mahathir but not after he joined PH.

“I do not support Umno because of the leaders. I support the party because I love my country, my race and my religion. Only Umno knows best.

“There is no assurance that if we choose PH, the country will continue be led by Malay leaders. Dr Mahathir’s just a front,” said Basiah, echoing other party delegates.

On the controversies surrounding Najib, she said leaders were only human and tended to make mistakes. Leaders were replaceable but not the party, she added.

“My mother and father were Umno members, I joined Umno when I was 18. I am an Umno loyalist. I have no intention of following Dr Mahathir to the opposition. 

“I will support Umno till I die. I am only thinking of my children and my grandchildren. Where do you think Malays will be if the opposition comes into power? Just look at Singapore. I still have family in Singapore and I know how the Malays are treated there,” she said.

She added that Dr Mahathir kept harping on Najib’s “mistakes” as if he himself did not make any mistakes during his 22 years as  prime minister.

“He talks about other people’s sons being rich but his sons are rich too,” said Basiah.

Her friend Salmah Abas, 58, agreed. She said Dr Mahathir should behave like former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who has continued to support Umno after stepping down as prime minister in 2009.

“This is how a leader should act. Not by working with DAP. At his age, Dr Mahathir should just relax and reflect on his past actions,” she said. 

Housewife Roziana Abdul Rahman, 47, said Dr Mahathir would not be able to take her vote away from Umno.

“Those against the government will not listen to explanations. The government however has given its best.” – December 6, 2017.

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Comments

  • Exactly how many punching bags are there in UMNO/BN to swallow these crap?

    Posted 6 years ago by Bigjoe Lam · Reply

  • Fact is the opinion of these "loyalist" or really punching bags do not matter ultimately, they are predatory to even weaker minded voters which is really the main issue.

    Posted 6 years ago by Bigjoe Lam · Reply

  • The same fear lingers on…when will these people grow up and be matured?

    Posted 6 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • I can only hear these parrots repeating scripts prepared by their thieving leaders, can't think for themselves and buried their head too.

    Posted 6 years ago by Kuasa Rakyat · Reply

  • Umno loyalist is a true reflection of intellect level in the party itself. They have totally ingrained themselves to be uniformed in one track mind and embark into a mindset that no reasoning and rationale is required as their big brothers and leaders will know what is best for them. Seeminly all these years of stiffling has led the awaked to leave the party and some still chose to be in incognito and waiting to react at an opportune time. Most of the members become herds in attitude and mindset . They are just like plain zombies and to be misled by misfit leaders who knows only about glamour, money ,sex and false beliefs of their ketuanan to intimidate and rule, be it Malays , Chinese, Indian Kadazan, Dusun , Dayaks and others . Even the Orang Asli and Penan are not spared. The sub intelligence could be easily seen in their pulling out of their same reasoning on the dirt old strategies from the dusty shelves year in year out. None other than the "bogey man" of Chinese DAP follow by their small minded rhetoric pulverising the renegades. Malicious in intent but the impact has started to drain off for it is too often being in used. A no reactions from the opposition will allow it to be fizzle off as there are no takers. It is a testimonial act to shows that the party has not evolves and the very much fear that internal independent thoughts will erode the few who are in power and only hasten the demise of Umno. Thanks God for the blessing of the scandals which are a plenty in the Umno party and the ruling Government Instituion. No amount sweeping or hiding or even to the extend of a force acceptance to the misdeeds can be ignored as words of mouth are easily in their natural gossiping in the village. The sentiments of distrust and anger are truly fired up by their children returning from the city complaining about the cost of living and some have even lost their jobs. All the beautiful pomps and gayety during the Umno assembly are only confined within the "have's" while the "have nots are just blurting the "luat aku" . The mistrust and disdain sentiments are no more just to the Nons and the opposition block 'cos the permeation has strangely reached the Umno party due to its own doing. Right now the "syiok sendiri" feeling in the Umno General assembly are understandable as it is only a camouflage to the fear on the demise of the party. The talks in the street and the general acceptance feelings are manifesting in leaps and bounds to ensure Umno to loose and drag down BN as well. Sentiment and the will to ensure the fall of UmnoBN are great and at its height but should not be taken for granted as a threaten ruling regime can resort to unimaginable and dastardly act. It is UmnoBN to loose in GE14 but what preparations by PH to ensure a stable win.

    Posted 6 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

    • Bear with the grammatical and some incoherent sentences. Too hasty in writting up.

      Posted 6 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply