Flood concerns raised as Umno divisions meet for last push

PETALING JAYA: In anticipation of snap polls, Umno divisions and wings are wrapping up their meetings, with the main agenda being who will be their nominees for Barisan Nasional state and parliamentary seats.

Division chiefs usually hand over the lists of nominees to the Umno supreme council.

However, the decision on who gets to contest is decided by Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, as he signs the watikah (letter of candidacy).

There have been heated discussions at some divisions where the likelihood of floods occurring during the northeast monsoon, which will hit the east coast mid-November, is high.

Jerantut Umno division chief Datuk Nazri Ngah said he prays a miracle will happen and the 15th General Election (GE15) will only be held next year.

The Pahang state exco member and Pulau Tawar assemblyman said this was voiced out by delegates during the Jerantut division as well as during the Youth and Women meetings.

“For us in Jerantut, where the floods are really severe during this time of the year, we are afraid.

“How do we deal with flood victims? How do we get voters to the polling stations? Would they want to go?

“Our Umno machinery is all prepared, but we want the elections next year. We will be happier,” said Nazri.

“The president does not know how difficult it is when floods hit. He is living in Kuala Lumpur.

“No one dares to raise strong opposition. He is the president and the Barisan chairman and he signs our watikah,” he added.

Nazri is well known for being a strong supporter of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who is also a Pahang MP.

Another Umno division chief in Kedah, who intends to run for a parliamentary seat, said he is hoping GE15 will not be held this year.

“I am worried. We had a unity government. In the elections, we will be facing off the other two big Malay parties – PAS and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia.

“In the last general election, we were quite sure they were our enemies. But in the next general election, it will be enemies we have slept with, as Umno and Bersatu are part of the current government and they supported Ismail Sabri to be the Prime Minister.

“Many of my division members are feeling torn,” said the division chief, who wanted to remain anonymous.

Meanwhile, Jelebu Umno division chief Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias, who is also the Federal Territory Deputy Minister, said his division was all set for GE15.