KUALA LUMPUR: An Umno vice-president has said he is not surprised by Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s decision to set up a Malay-only coalition, but hopes that the community will not be swayed by such tactics.
Khaled Nordin said employing such strategies was nothing new when an election was approaching.
“But we cannot rely on such short-term or impromptu strategies only to abandon it once the polls are over,” he told reporters after attending the party’s Supreme Council meeting here.
Khaled also took a swipe at the Gerakan Tanah Air line-up, wondering if it was the “face of Malaysia’s future”.
“If we are going to talk about the future there has to be young leaders, but look at them, they are all seasoned politicians.”
Earlier today, Mahathir unveiled the GTA coalition which comprised Pejuang, Parti Barisan Jemaah Islamiah Se-Malaysia (Berjasa), Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia (Putra) and the National Indian Muslim Alliance Party (Iman).
It also consisted of Malay NGOs, academics as well as professionals.
On Mahathir’s statement that GTA was established to challenge Umno in the coming 15th general election, Khaled said those who offered to stand in the polls should do so to help develop Malaysia “… and not to finish off political parties”.
When asked if Umno viewed GTA as a threat, Khaled said that anyone was free to contest in an election. - FMT
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