‘I dare Dr M to contest in Pekan’

Thanks a bunch: Hishammuddin (centre) receiving petai after officiating the Cameron Highlands Umno division meeting at Sungai Koyan in Lipis. Also present is Wan Rosdy (second left).

LIPIS: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s “aspiration” to stand against the Prime Minister in Pekan in the next general election has been dismissed as a populist statement.

Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said the statement was deliberately issued when the Umno divisions were holding their meetings so as to disturb the focus of party members.