'Heavyweight defections' an opposition gimmick, says KJ

The defection of some Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders which has been described as ‘heavyweight defections’ by the opposition is merely an opposition gimmick to “pull wool over the eyes of the people”, said Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin.

He said this was because the said leaders were not wanted by the Barisan Nasional coalition.
                            
Citing the case of Tamrin Ghafar(left in photo) who quit Umno to join PAS on Saturday night, Khairy said it was an opposition political plot because Tamrin himself had been out of Umno politics for so long, and that this is a way for him to 'get back on the horse'.

"I think the pro-opposition media is highlighting these defections to make it look grand and heavy, but it is not. 

"Like Wilfred Bumburing, he is not wanted anymore by the Tuaran people as their candidate and Lajim (Ukin) is also not a party headliner.

"But (Opposition leader) Anwar (Anwar Ibrahim) when people from our side jump to his side he says they don't like us and it's for the rakyat (people), but if people from his side jump (to BN), he says it is because we give money. 

"I'm sick of hearing this lies. Don't insult the people's intelligence," he told reporters in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. 

Earlier, he and BN Youth leaders had spent more than an hour to shop for Aidilfitri essentials with 40 children aged between five and 12 years of the Children's Activity Centre Chow Kit, at a shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur. 

Khairy also said that Umno knew Sabah senator Maijol Mahap would be resigning from his BN and United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) posts weeks ago, "but Anwar being as playful' as he is, made it look like a shock to the people."

"This is all his (Anwar's) play. We knew about it because he (Maijol) had resigned from (Upko) weeks ago," he said.

Maijol, Upko's vice-president, formally announced his decision to leave BN at a function held at his house in Kampung Kokobuan, Kota Marudu, Sabah yesterday afternoon.

He had officially quit Upko two weeks ago. 

Khairy added that he wished that Parliament would 'ignite' an anti-hopping law so that Parlimentarians elected must vacate their seats before he or she could 'jump ship'.

- Bernama