Withdraw would portray that BN is weak - DrM

RAUB: Umno has to contest the Penanti by-election or it will disappoint its members and supporters, said former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

He said Umno was a party that does not fear placing candidates in the elections.

Welcome back: Dr M signing authographs for the Benom Resort national service trainees after his speech on the future of Malay youths in Raub yesterday. Looking on is Dong assemblyman and Raub Umno division chief Datuk Shaharuddin Abdul Moin.

“History has proven that Umno could face even the super powers including the British until we gained Merdeka,” he said, adding that the fighting spirit of those days should be a lesson for the present and future generations.

Withdrawing from the contest, he said would also portray the coalition as being weak.

He said that Umno should not surrender although the seat is with the Opposition, adding that during his time as Prime Minister, Umno had never withdrawn from any by-election even in the Opposition state of Kelantan.

“I think if it (Penanti) is Umno’s area (strong hold), I am sure we will contest.

“Win or lose is a separate matter; if we do not contest then it already indicates that the other party wins,” he told reporters after presenting a keynote address at a Malay youth function at the Rakan Muda Sports Complex yesterday.

On the subject of the crooked bridge from Johor to Singapore, Dr Mahathir said it should continue and that it was a lie that Johoreans did not want the project.

He also advised Barisan Nasional members to correct their leaders if they felt their leaders had made mistakes.

“Criticising their leaders does not mean that they are disloyal to the leaders,” he said.

Meanwhile, Puteri Umno chief Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin agreed that the increasing number of by-elections caused by the Pakatan Rakyat was a huge waste of taxpayers’ money and time.

“Stop playing around. It is uncalled for and not constructive,” Rosnah told reporters yesterday referring to the possible by-election at Penanti after former Penang chief minister I Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin resigned on Thursday.

“We are in the midst of an economic crisis and that is what we should be tackling, not by-elections. They are just creating a burden for the people with so many by-elections,” said Rosnah. (TheStar)