Don’t be influenced by party traitors' incitement, Nazri tells Umno members

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 11 ― Former minister-turned-ambassador to the United States, Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz called on Umno members not to give in to incitement by party "traitors" ahead of polling day in the six states tomorrow.

The long-serving former minister said that former leaders who have left the party have no right to talk about Umno’s survival, and reminded Umno members that allowing these former leaders to bully them is akin to bringing bad luck to the party.

“Those who have joined other political parties have asked Umno members to not vote for Barisan Nasional (BN) candidates in the state elections in an effort to hit back at certain party leaders.

“If Umno members are easily influenced by these people, our party will become weaker while the traitor’s party will become stronger,” he was quoted as saying by Astro Awani during a BN political speech in Kuang, near Sungai Buloh last night.

To make his point, Mohamed Nazri used Selangor as an example where if BN loses in all 12 seats being contested, then it will be difficult to even be given three seats for the next election.

He said any negotiations for seats after this will be based on the party’s performance using this election as a gauge.

Mohamed Nazri said Umno was very lucky to be given 12 seats to contest in Selangor despite only winning five seats in the 2018 general election.

“If we follow the formula by convention, each party will only be allowed to defend the seat it won before this.

“But by Allah’s will, Umno is given 12 seats despite only winning five seats in the past election,” he was quoted saying by Astro Awani.

Mohamed Nazri, who is the Padang Rengas Umno division chief, remarked that it was interesting to note that DAP, which was said to be anti-Malay, was willing to hand over the Dusun Tua state seat to Umno.

In Penang, he said PAS had to hand over seats to Parti Gerakan.

“So, I want to ask which Malay party was it that was beholden to a Chinese-based party?” he questioned.

Mohamed Nazri also stressed that Umno members need to realise that DAP's claims of the party being anti-Malay and anti-Islamic are threats perpetuated by the Opposition.