Ahmad Maslan details 'factors' that led to Umno's poor GE15 performance

Umno's disastrous showing in the 15th general election (GE15) was contributed by several factors - the majority of which was allegedly planned by the opposition, the party's secretary-general Ahmad Maslan has claimed.

Speaking at the Umno general assembly at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL) today, Ahmad (above) said Umno's poor performance in the national polls was out of the ordinary as the party had won a total of seven by-elections previously.

"Voters' contact numbers were 'stolen' and misused, and voters in every state were bribed. Youngsters were given RM150 each, undergraduates were paid RM300, while the disabled and retirees were bribed RM600 each," Ahmad alleged, without providing any form of proof.

Umno leaders were also "demonised" by their opponents on social media, especially TikTok, he added.

Aside from these, internal sabotage within Umno also contributed to the loss, Ahmad noted.

Ahmad did not mention names but is believed to be referring to the opposition coalition Perikatan Nasional, which had a prominent social media presence during the GE15 period.

Among the videos that made the headlines, albeit for the wrong reasons, were anti-DAP and anti-Chinese videos uploaded on TikTok, attributed to PN supporters.

Some of the posts warned about a possible repeat of the deadly May 13, 1969, race riot, days after GE15 on Nov 19. - Mkini