Hisham dares Mahathir to contest in Pekan
LIPIS: The aspiration of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) president Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to contest in the Pekan Parliamentary constituency at the 14th General Election (GE14) has been described as a populist statement.
Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said the statement was deliberately issued when the Umno divisional delegates’ meetings were being actively held and was aimed at disturbing the party members’ focus.
“I see it’s a populist statement, I challenge him to contest in Pekan. If he dares to, I myself, Datuk Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and the whole Barisan Nasional’s leadership will go down there to defend the prime minister’s (Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak) position as party president... so go ahead, if you dare,” he said.
He was speaking at a media conference to reporters after opening the Cameron Highlands Umno Division Delegates Meeting at Sungai Koyan, here yesterday.
The media conference was also attended by Cameron Highlands Umno Division chief and State Housing and Municipal Committee chairman Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail and state Umno Liaison Committee representateive Datuk Seri Shahiruddin Ab Moin.
Hishammuddin said this when asked to comment on the aspiration of the former prime minister who wanted to contest in Pekan against Najib if necessary and if no other candidate were considered qualified.
While commenting on PKR vicepresident Rafizi Ramli’s statement that the current support of the Malay voters for Pakatan Harapan was found to be more than for BN with the advent of GE14, he said the issue raised was not a new thing.
“Rafizi always made various statements, but when his statement is answered he would move the goal post. He deliberately throws out issues to see our reactions.
“For me the statement is only an assumption that is deliberately raised especially before the impending GE14,” he said.
Touching on the wishes of the division’s Umno delegates who wanted a representative from the party to replace the MIC to contest for Barisan Nasional (BN) in the upcoming GE14, Hishammuddin said the proposal would be taken to the top leadership level for scrutiny. - Bernama