The Umno AGM kicked off this evening with deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin disparaging arch rival PAS as a mere minnow in Pakatan Rakyat which was forced to compromise on its principles.
In his address at the opening ceremony of the Umno Youth and Wanita wings’ AGMs, Muhyiddin said that conversely, Umno’s steadfast principles had stood the test of time and the party had maintained its dominant role in BN.
Muhyiddin’s surgical strike on PAS’ leadership and Islamic credentials likely stems from the fact that Umno’s electoral casualties in 2008 - mostly in the northern states of the peninsula - came at the hands of PAS.
Providing a reality check, Muhyiddin pointed out that throughout its history, PAS had only contested a meagre number out the total parliamentary seats up for grabs in the general elections.
“The irony is, even if PAS won all the seats it contested, PAS still cannot form the government to uphold an Islamic state as it professes. What more, even with PAS’ best ever performance in 1999, it only won 26 seats,” he told delegates at the PWTC in Kuala Lumpur tonight.
He further pointed out that PAS had only once won all the seats it contested when it was with BN in the 1974 general election, but lost a majority of seats it contested when it was not with BN.
This reality, Muhyiddin said, meant that PAS could never uphold Islam on its own and it was impossible that the “racist and chauvinistic” DAP and the “destroyer” PKR would aid the Islamic party in that endeavour.
In his address at the opening ceremony of the Umno Youth and Wanita wings’ AGMs, Muhyiddin said that conversely, Umno’s steadfast principles had stood the test of time and the party had maintained its dominant role in BN.
Muhyiddin’s surgical strike on PAS’ leadership and Islamic credentials likely stems from the fact that Umno’s electoral casualties in 2008 - mostly in the northern states of the peninsula - came at the hands of PAS.Providing a reality check, Muhyiddin pointed out that throughout its history, PAS had only contested a meagre number out the total parliamentary seats up for grabs in the general elections.
“The irony is, even if PAS won all the seats it contested, PAS still cannot form the government to uphold an Islamic state as it professes. What more, even with PAS’ best ever performance in 1999, it only won 26 seats,” he told delegates at the PWTC in Kuala Lumpur tonight.
He further pointed out that PAS had only once won all the seats it contested when it was with BN in the 1974 general election, but lost a majority of seats it contested when it was not with BN.
This reality, Muhyiddin said, meant that PAS could never uphold Islam on its own and it was impossible that the “racist and chauvinistic” DAP and the “destroyer” PKR would aid the Islamic party in that endeavour.
‘Electoral history proves Umno stronger’
He also mocked PAS delegates who at its recently concluded muktamar called for its president Abdul Hadi Awang to be made prime minister if Pakatan Rakyat wins, stating that the party does not have enough seats for a dominant position.
Muhiyddin, who is also deputy prime minister, appeared to be capitalising on the anxiety of PAS’ grassroots about the cooperation with Pakatan which came to the fore during the muktamar.
In contrast, Muhyiddin said, Umno had throughout its electoral history in this country, through the number of seats it can contest and win, ensured that it becomes the core in the government.
He also mocked PAS delegates who at its recently concluded muktamar called for its president Abdul Hadi Awang to be made prime minister if Pakatan Rakyat wins, stating that the party does not have enough seats for a dominant position.
Muhiyddin, who is also deputy prime minister, appeared to be capitalising on the anxiety of PAS’ grassroots about the cooperation with Pakatan which came to the fore during the muktamar.
In contrast, Muhyiddin said, Umno had throughout its electoral history in this country, through the number of seats it can contest and win, ensured that it becomes the core in the government.
“With this position, Umno is able to execute policies according to the party’s struggle and based on consensus with other BN component parties,” he said.
Even before Pakatan captured federal power, Muhyiddin said, PAS had already been subjugated to become a minor partner, citing its exclusion from the Penang government and the ouster of former Selangor PAS commissioner Hasan Ali from the Selangor government.
Even before Pakatan captured federal power, Muhyiddin said, PAS had already been subjugated to become a minor partner, citing its exclusion from the Penang government and the ouster of former Selangor PAS commissioner Hasan Ali from the Selangor government.
Muhyiddin then hammered the last nail into the rival coalition’s Islamic credentials, accusing it of being infiltrated by deviant culture such as the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual movement, based on opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim’s sympathetic comments for the community; as well as PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar’s statement which he said advocated apostasy among Muslims.
‘Fake democratic credentials’
He then moved on to rip Pakatan’s democratic credentials, zooming on PKR’s troubled party polls in 2010.
Noting Anwar’s attempt to bring in international observers for the upcoming general election, Muhyiddin remarked: “It would be better for the opposition leader to invite foreign representative to witness PKR’s party election. We would like to see what would be their comments.
“Was PKR’s election clean? Was it free? Was it fair? Is PKR democratic when he appoints himself as supremo without going through the electoral process?
“This only happens in a dictatorial party, not a democratic party,” he said, mocking PKR as Parti Keluarga dan Rakan-Rakan (Party of Family and Friends).
He then moved on to rip Pakatan’s democratic credentials, zooming on PKR’s troubled party polls in 2010.
Noting Anwar’s attempt to bring in international observers for the upcoming general election, Muhyiddin remarked: “It would be better for the opposition leader to invite foreign representative to witness PKR’s party election. We would like to see what would be their comments.
“Was PKR’s election clean? Was it free? Was it fair? Is PKR democratic when he appoints himself as supremo without going through the electoral process?
“This only happens in a dictatorial party, not a democratic party,” he said, mocking PKR as Parti Keluarga dan Rakan-Rakan (Party of Family and Friends).
More than half, or 33 of 62 paragraphs, of Muhyiddin’s speech was targeted at Pakatan.
Muhyiddin also turned the tables on Pakatan, claiming that it was the culprit for fanning racial sentiments.
Instead, Muhyiddin said Umno was committed to defend the Malays but at the same time will ensure just distribution for all races.
“In the 66 years that Umno struggled for the Malays and Islam, Umno had never victimised any other race. This is Umno’s justice.
“Umno does not need to feel sinful or guilty for being on our platform of struggle,” he said.
Muhyiddin also turned the tables on Pakatan, claiming that it was the culprit for fanning racial sentiments.
Instead, Muhyiddin said Umno was committed to defend the Malays but at the same time will ensure just distribution for all races.
“In the 66 years that Umno struggled for the Malays and Islam, Umno had never victimised any other race. This is Umno’s justice.
“Umno does not need to feel sinful or guilty for being on our platform of struggle,” he said.
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