Hishammuddin: How did I underperform as minister?

 

Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein has questioned critics of Umno leaders' performance as cabinet ministers.

"I feel obligated to address the rumours that Umno ministers are not performing.

"Although there aren't many (who said it), I want to know what they mean, as it includes myself as a minister in the cabinet.

"If (we) really have not performed, I think our party's success in the (previous) state elections would not have been achieved, as it was dependent on our success and performance in government," he said when met by reporters at the World Trade Center today as he attended the 2021 Umno General Assembly.

Speaking about himself, Hishamuddin questioned the validity of critics on performance as the defence minister.

The Umno leader pointed out that there have been other Umno leaders who took the role of defence minister, questioning the difference in their performance.

"How did I underperform as defence minister?

"What is the difference between me, as the current defence minister, and the performance of other ministers before me, who happened to be the Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Najib Abdul Razak?

"What is the difference that today people are accusing Umno ministers of not performing?" he asked.

On Wednesday, Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan said that Umno's performance in the government was unconvincing but admitted that some attempted to do their level best.

During the Malacca state election, Umno lost 17 out of 18 army voting streams in the Sungai Udang constituency to Perikatan Nasional.

Sungai Udang was one of two seats PN won in the state election, the other being Bemban.

Voting against BN is not uncommon among the military.

During the 2018 general election, only 53.81 percent of military votes went to BN.

Another 25.15 percent went to PAS, and 20.25 percent went to Pakatan Harapan.

In the Tangga Batu parliament constituency, where Sungai Udang is, only 50.3 percent of army votes went to BN, while 27 percent voted for PAS and 22.75 percent voted for Harapan. - Mkini