Umno gets taste of its own medicine

ITS TIME A TOTAL REVAMP OF UTUSAN IS DONE BY UMNO & SACK THOSE WHO HAVE GONE AGAINST THEIR MASTERS - UMNO

POKOK SENA (Harakahdaily) - PAS vice president Mahfuz Omar said the day had finally come for UMNO to feel the "sting" of its own Malay daily, Utusan Malaysia, which in the past was repeatedly used to pour scorn on the Opposition.

“UMNO finally realises that their own mouthpiece cannot be trusted," said Mahfuz, adding that the party now was now getting a taste of its own medicine when it used the daily "to slander PAS and Pakatan Rakyat".

He was responding to recent headlines and editorial pieces by the Malay daily criticising UMNO leaders for distancing themselves from right wing group Perkasa.

Mahfuz compared the current Utusan campaign to a similar campaign by the paper against former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to pressure him out of office following the BN's dismal performance in the 2008 elections.

Mahfuz - known for his wit

He added that in this case, the daily is being used by a faction belonging to Dr Mahathir Mohamad to oust Najib Razak from office.

“This is clearly UMNO's internal crisis ... there is a hidden agenda led by someone to bring down Najib,” said the Pokok Sena member of parliament.

“Mahathir during his feud with Pak Lah was quoted as saying that (current deputy Prime Minister) Muhyiddin Yassin was more credible to replace Pak Lah,” recalled Mahfuz.

Mahfuz (left) also said it was up to the Malays to evaluate the Perkasa's credibility in fighting for the plight of the Malays.

“I don’t see them as defending the Malays in this issue, they are merely trying to create opportunities for their leaders in the name of Malays,” he added.

Where have all the Malay unity fighters gone

Several UMNO leaders have recently openly urged party members to distance themselves from Perkasa led by Pasir Mas MP Ibrahim Ali, blaming the group as the main reason for UMNO’s dwindling support. This led to a tit-for-tat media fracas between UMNO and Perkasa, with Dr Mahathir and Utusan Malaysia throwing their support behind Perkasa.

Nizar

Pakatan Rakyat leaders have however dismissed the war of words as political theatrics by UMNO in its strategy to win back non-Malay support at the next general election.

Meanwhile, PAS's Bukit Gantang MP and former Perak Menteri Besar Nizar Jamaluddin, referring to UMNO's refusal to cooperate with Perkasa, questioned the silence of those who had once condemned PAS for refusing to cooperate with UMNO for Malay unity.

“With UMNO distancing and separating itself from Perkasa, it will worsen the split among Malays. Why are those Malay unity fighters so quiet?” twitted Nizar sarcastically.