IN a twist to the way loyalty is perceived in Umno today, more than 20 candidates for the seven delegates’ seats to the party’s annual general assembly (PAU17) withdrew before polling today.

Announcing it at the beginning of his speech, division chief and Baling MP Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim proudly detailed how he called some of the candidates to ask them to withdraw to avoid contests and fractures within the division.

“Out of respect for the leadership and to show that Baling is united, some contestants for the assembly have withdrawn their candidacy. There will be no contest for the delegates’ selection to PAU17,” said Azeez.

He said the candidates withdrew because they were loyal and faithful to him just as he is to the leadership of party president Najib Razak and vice-president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Azeez said he was likewise loyal to Dr Mahathir Mohamad despite his actions during his tenure.

“In 1987, we backed him when he broke ties with Musa Hitam and appointed Ghafar Baba as deputy prime minister.

“In 1988 during the clash with Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, Umno was declared illegal. Who was president and PM then?

“Following these events, in 1990 we lost big to Semangat 46 and Umno lost all its seats in Kelantan,” said the Tabung Haji chairman.

He said Dr Mahathir then brought in Anwar Ibrahim in the 1990s and removed Ghafar.

“And then he sacked Anwar in 1998 and PKR was created, causing Terengganu to fall to PAS.

“We supported him again until 2003 when he passed the baton to Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who won big in the 2004 general election.”

Azeez said Dr Mahathir then attacked Abdullah and his son-in-law Khairy Jamaluddin, and Barisan Nasional lost five states in GE12.

The Baling leader said Dr Mahathir left the party when he was battling Abdullah but rejoined Umno after going to Najib’s house to hand in his application forms after Abdullah stepped down.

“Following that, Mukhriz, who has never won any important elections, wanted to run for vice president and we supported him because he was Dr Mahathir’s son.

“No more, no way. Over our dead bodies if he wants to threaten Umno.

“When we were youths he indoctrinated into us that DAP and Lim Kit Siang were the enemies. And if DAP ruled there will be no subsidies for the poor. But under Umno a mamak tonkang has made it to be MP,” said Azeez, referring to himself.

The Tabung Haji chief also praised Najib for providing sponsorships for haj pilgrims under 1Malaysia Development Bhd.

“None of the other prime ministers have thought of this but under Najib, 5,711 people who could never dream of doing their pilgrimage has done so.

“Is that a sign of a bankrupt government?” said Azeez.

He told the Baling members to back Najib as it was their duty to be loyal to the party and its leadership as they had done so under Dr Mahathir, too. – August 5, 2017.