GE15: Umno will only field candidates who put the party first, says Ahmad Zahid

PETALING JAYA: Umno will only field candidates in the 15th General Election (GE15) who abide by party decisions, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

"After the 2018 polls, we learned the value of loyalty and will only choose those who have the party and Barisan Nasional's interests at heart," the Umno president said on Facebook on Friday (Oct 28).

ALSO READ: Umno MPs hopped to Bersatu after GE14 to save themselves, Zahid tells court

He said there was no place for arrogance or those who think of themselves, adding that such people should realise that everything they currently enjoyed was only because they were once Umno members.

"Umno needs people who are loyal and will not be easily influenced by external elements seeking to use them as proxies.

"We must ensure stability in the party and (field) those who will not turn against the party when they win the polls," he added.

Ahmad Zahidi, who is also Barisan chairman, said Umno's top leadership will pick candidates who are disciplined and not arrogant, who are bold in defending Umno and will not speak ill of or criticise their own leaders.

ALSO READ: Umno will not entertain Bersatu's request to negotiate seats it originally won in GE14

Umno was hit by a wave of defections after GE14.

Fifteen seats it won that later became Bersatu's are Jeli (Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed), Bagan Serai (Datuk Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali), Masjid Tanah (Datuk Wira Mas Ermieyati Samsudin), Larut (Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin), Hulu Terengganu (Datuk Rosol Wahid), Bukit Gantang (Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal), Mersing (Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad);

Tasek Gelugor (Datuk Shabudin Yahaya), Sabak Bernam (Datuk Mohd Fasiah Mohd Fakeh), Tanah Merah (Datuk Seri Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz), Beaufort (Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun), Beluran (Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee), Kudat (Datuk Abd Rahim Bakri), Libaran (Datuk Zakaria Mohd Edris), and Sipitang (Yamani Hafez Musa).