NOT everyone in Sabak Bernam who voted for Umno’s Mohd Fasiah Mohd Fakeh in the 14th general election is happy with his decision to leave the party, with some calling on him to step down.
Voters in this semi-rural parliamentary constituency 100km north of Kuala Lumpur also want Fasiah to explain his reasons for leaving the party.
Some questioned his integrity for continuing to hold on to the seat, which he retained in the last general election on a Barisan Nasional ticket.
Sabak Bernam resident Ahmad Jais Zahdi, 48, said although it was Fasiah’s right to leave Umno, it was not ethical and moral.
“If you owe people (Umno), you have to pay your debts (by being loyal).
“We can’t blame him 100% as he might have his reasons. But he has insulted the voters by leaving,” he told The Malaysian Insight recently.
Ahmad said Umno supporters had worked hard during GE14 to ensure Fasiah’s victory.
“The leaders have always said MPs must be loyal to the party despite whatever situation.
“If he really wants to help the people, he should step down and then he will get his integrity back,” he said.
On December 14, six Umno MPs, including Fasiah, left the party to become independents. They are expected to join Bersatu.
In GE14, Fasiah retained the Sabak Bernam seat with a reduced majority of 1,674 votes, defeating Bersatu’s Warno Dogol and PAS’ Muhamad Labib Abd Jalil.
Sabak Bernam was one of only two federal seats won by BN in Selangor. The other was Tanjung Karang. There are 22 parliamentary constituencies in the state.
Another resident, who wants to be known as Naza, 62, said by quitting Umno, Fasiah had abandoned the responsibility and mandate given to him by the people.
“He should serve the people and not serve himself. That is why the people voted him in.”
Naza added that he had not seen Fasiah in a long time around the area.
“We haven’t seen him at any function here. If the people see him, they might chastise him for leaving Umno,” he said.
However, Sabak Bernam Umno chief Abdul Rahman Bakri said Fasiah’s departure has not caused any trouble in the division, indicating that the party’s strength on the ground remained intact.
Nothing has changed and the Umno division is still solid despite Fasiah leaving, he said.
The same sentiment was expressed by plantation worker Zulkefli Abu Hassan, 51, who said Fasiah won only with the help of the Umno machinery.
“We worked hard to ensure he won. But seven months later, he left the party and we don’t know why.
“We have been hearing about Umno MPs jumping ship but we never expected Fasiah to leave.
“We are disappointed that he left without an explanation,” he said.
Retiree Mohd Khairi Yunus, 66, said he has known Fasiah for a long time and that he is a good man.
“Over the years, he has given aid to the poor and also helped schoolchildren by providing supplies.
“We understand he is in the opposition now and they don’t get much allocation. But we are not asking for anything.
“So, I don’t see a reason why he must leave.” – https://www.themalaysianinsight.com
Umno defectors a virus that will infect PPBM, says veep
KUALA LUMPUR – Umno vice president Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin today labelled the party’s defectors who joined Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) as viruses that would eventually cause the fledgling Malay party’s downfall.
Khaled said Umno viewed the mass defection positively since the party had cleansed itself of disloyal and opportunistic leaders who only used the former ruling party to enrich themselves.
“Trust me, their departure will not make us lose sleep. In fact it would certainly make you stay awake at night,” Khaled said in a statement.
“Because they are all this while the very virus that had infected and damaged us. And viruses, no matter where they go, will cause sickness and collapse.
“I do not wish to pray for it, but I am confident that just as how the virus had turned cancerous for Umno, so shall it become the blood and flesh of PPBM,” he added.
Over 20 Umno MPs have quit the party, with most either joining PPBM or declaring political fealty to the Pakatan Harapan administration.
PPBM, a party set up by former Umno president and two-time Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, is a PH component member.
Khaled’s invective echoed the criticism levelled against PPBM by PH allies, who felt the Mahathir-led outfit had betrayed its supporters by accepting politicians with questionable credentials.
The former Johor chief minister predicted, like some of his PH counterparts, that the “virus” will infect PPBM down to the core.
“I’m confident that it’s just a matter of time before PPBM becomes just another Umno,” he said.
“You can call it Bersatu, but in reality it’s just Umno 2.0 or 3.0.”
PPBM president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin recently said the party took note of the protest against its decision to accept Umno defectors, but gave assurance that only “clean” leaders will be taken in.
Muhyiddin, who is also a federal minister and a former Umno deputy president, said PPBM will not protect members found guilty of corruption, amid claims that many Umno politicians had defected to PH to avoid punishment.
Khaled predicted that this would result in widespread corruption within PPBM, similar to Umno.
“They will bring with them the culture of money and patronage, and they will find every space or opportunity not to fight, but to profit,” he said.
“And this faction will soon take over the party once regrouped.”
– https://www.malaymail.com
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