Muhyiddin slams Khaled for saying Bersatu ‘meddling’ in election

 Bersatu president says every party contests an election with the aim of winning.

Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin said although his party remains part of PN, it appears to have been sidelined from the coalition’s decision-making process.

SEREMBAN:

Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin has hit out at Umno vice-president Khaled Nordin for claiming that Bersatu is “meddling” in the Negeri Sembilan state election.

Speaking after a ceramah here last night, Muhyiddin said every party contests an election with the aim of winning.

“Khaled is a mature and seasoned politician with vast ministerial experience. (But) his statement sounds like something a child would say,” he told reporters after the ceramah in the Sikamat state constituency.

“We are not contesting the state election just for the sake of it. We want to win. Do not underestimate us,” he added.

At the launch of the Barisan Nasional (BN) election machinery in Johol last Sunday, Khaled said Bersatu was merely “meddling” in the Negeri Sembilan election and urged voters to ensure that the party does not win a single seat.

He said Bersatu, which he claimed was established to replace Umno, should be prevented from gaining a foothold that would allow it to continue contesting future elections, including the next general election.

No MB candidate for now

Asked about Bersatu’s menteri besar candidate in Negeri Sembilan, Muhyiddin said the matter would be decided when the time came.

“There is no need for us to announce anything for now. We will see how the situation develops. God willing, if we receive strong support, we are confident we can secure enough seats to form the government.

“Certainly, the menteri besar’s position will need to be filled. But at this point, we have not decided on anything,” he said.

The former prime minister also said Bersatu would announce its manifesto for the Negeri Sembilan election soon, covering issues such as the economy, infrastructure, public healthcare and education.

Bersatu is contesting the Negeri Sembilan election under its own logo amid tensions with PAS and the cooperation between Perikatan Nasional (PN) and BN.

The party is fielding 24 candidates in the Aug 1 election, resulting in clashes with two PN component parties – PAS and Parti Wawasan Negara – in eight seats.

BN and PN have an electoral understanding under which BN will contest 25 seats and PN 11, with no overlap, while Pakatan Harapan is contesting all 36 seats.

Muhyiddin said Bersatu was not informed of or involved in discussions in PN following the coalition’s decision to direct its members and supporters to vote for BN candidates in seats not contested by PN in Negeri Sembilan.

He said although Bersatu remained part of PN, it appeared to have been sidelined from the coalition’s decision-making process.

“We were simply left out. This was a decision they made,” he said.

“I do not know who (in PN) made this decision. But it is rather strange, isn’t it? However, that is their matter. I do not want to interfere.” - FMT