Umno man claims his speech twisted

Musa Sheikh Fadzir says he did not suggest abandoning BN partners in Penang.

GEORGE TOWN: Penang Umno’s deputy chairman, Musa Sheikh Fadzir, has threatened to sue two Chinese newspapers for what he said was false and “mischievous reporting” of his speech at the recent Umno general assembly.

He denied that he called on Umno to abandon its Barisan Nasional partners and go solo in Penang in the coming general election, saying he was “shocked by such misreporting” by Kwong Wah Yit Poh and Guang Ming Daily.

He demanded that the two papers retract their articles, publish corrections and apologise within a week. “Or else I will take the necessary legal action.”

He told a press conference here that he had a video recording of his entire speech.

Musa, who heads Umno’s Bukit Mertajam division, said the speech was mostly about the problems Penang Umno was facing.

He also said Umno was now working closely with all BN allies to ensure the coalition’s victory in the state in the coming polls. “We have developed strong solidarity and cooperation among all BN allies. Umno had never and would never abandon its allies.”

He claimed that in 1990, when Umno was the biggest winner in Penang, the party did not insist on the Chief Minister’s post for one of its own, but gave way to Gerakan.

He said he wasswarmed with phone calls from friends and political colleagues following the reports in the two dailies.

“I think the mischievous reporting by both Chinese dailies was to pit me against my BN colleagues,” he added.