Dr M admits Umno-PAS ties led to BN victory in Semenyih

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad admits the cooperation between Umno and PAS led to BN's victory in yesterday's by-election for Semenyih.

"Well, the last time we won (the state seat) in the 14th general election was because PAS and Umno were divided, and therefore, they couldn't achieve a good number," he said at a press conference after opening the 2019 National Landscape Day in Putrajaya today.

However, Mahathir stressed that the burgeoning ties between Umno and PAS would work against the latter in a general election.

"They can work together for by-elections, because a win or a loss is not important. 

"But for the general election, they cannot work together. If they do, PAS will be left with nothing," he said.

BN recaptured Semenyih yesterday after its candidate Zakaria Hanafi bagged 19,780 votes, a 1,914-majority win over Pakatan Harapan's Muhammad Aiman Zainali.

PSM' Nik Aziz Afiq Abdul and independent Kuan Chee Heng garnered 847 and 725 votes respectively. 

'Sentiments played up'

Mahathir also blamed certain quarters who played up religious sensitivities during the campaign.

"There were some people who unnecessarily provoked anger among the people by harping on issues pertaining to insults against Prophet Muhammad.

"All this did not contribute to the betterment of the country. So, we hope they don't do this kind of thing again, because it will just make people angry."

Recently, Umno and PAS Youth threatened to hold a mega rally to express dissatisfaction on the purportedly lackadaisical approach towards those who insult Islam and the Prophet.

'Can't be done overnight'

Asked whether Harapan's failure to fulfil the promises in its manifesto contributed to its defeat in Semenyih, Mahathir said the government needed time to fulfil the promises, especially given the country's RM1 trillion debt.

"We want to fulfil the promises, but it cannot be done overnight. It takes a long time. Now our debt is at RM1 trillion. 

"The money that we have should be spent on the people, but now we have to use it to pay interest.

"Recently, we paid RM200 million interest because (former premier) Najib Abdul Razak had incurred an RM55 billion loan for the East Coast Rail Line project, which could actually be done at a much lower cost," he said. 

Asked to comment on the GLC boss who had allegedly helped PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang pay RM1.4 million to settle his suit against Sarawak Report editor Clare Rewcastle-Brown, Mahathir said he was not livid.

"PAS has many sympathisers. He (Hadi) has a problem, so if they want to help, they can do so. 

"We are not angry with him (the GLC boss), but we are angry with PAS for not telling the truth."

Hadi had sued Rewcastle-Brown in London over a 2016 Sarawak Report article, which alleged that Najib channelled RM90 million to top PAS leaders in a bid to secure their support ahead of the 14th general election.

However, both parties had settled the matter out of court.

Rewcastle-Brown confirmed that Hadi had paid RM1.4 million through her lawyer Americk Sidhu.

In a Facebook post yesterday, former Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli said the head of the GLC, who carries a 'datuk' title, is close to Hadi's family and a staunch PAS supporter. - Mkini