Umno communications unit ‘regrets’ Dr Mahathir’s address

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno has expressed its “regrets” that Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad chose to politicise his Aidilfitri address to urge the people to hate the party and Barisan Nasional.

The party’s strategic communications unit said on Friday, the prime minister had chosen to “defend the lie” about the nation’s actual debts.

It said Dr Mahathir seemed to portray himself as a saint when he talked about the purity of Hari Raya Aidilfitri and the teachings of God, but at the same time, incited hatred of Umno and BN.

“Umno is aggrieved by such attitude. His address should have been used to foster national unity, mutual forgiveness and joyfulness. Instead, Dr Mahathir took advantage of the opportunity to blame the previous government and praise the Pakatan Harapan government that has only been in power for just over a month as being ‘perfect’, as well as (one which will) not make any mistakes,” it said.

It also questioned whether Dr Mahathir and his cabinet were aware that the king’s decision not to hold an Aidilfitri open house this year was a sign that he was unhappy with the PH administration for questioning the money spent on the royalty.

The unit said acting Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi did not touch on politics in his Aidilfitri message, instead, he called on the ummah to seize the opportunity of making it a celebration of unity.