Thursday 28 Mar 2024
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ALOR SETAR (May 1): Former Finance Minister and UMNO treasurer-general Tun Daim Zainuddin said UMNO is illegal and he cannot be a member of an illegal society, hence he is coming out to "fight for justice" by speaking at Pakatan Harapan (PH) events.

“I am fighting for justice for the people. I am not scared of disciplinary action being taken against me because UMNO is an illegal society and under the law, I cannot be a member of an illegal society,” he told reporters after meeting with voters in Pendang today.

UMNO has not held its elections at Supreme Council, division and branch levels, since October 2013 but the Registrar of Societies (RoS) approved its application to postpone the elections till April 19, 2019 although the dominant political party should have conducted its polls by April 19 this year.

Since its last election, it would have been 54 months in April, which is the maximum limit stated in UMNO’s constitution, resulting in claims that the party is illegal.

When asked, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) Supreme Council member and a personal friend of Daim, Datuk A Kadir Jasin said the former could be sacked by UMNO but "maybe later".

“From his comment, you can tell that he does not want to be a member but he is not going to write a letter and say he is leaving the party. However, from what he has said now, UMNO might take action but not now, maybe later,” he told theedgemarkets.com

The ex-Finance Minister was also asked to comment on his speaking arrangements at PH events particularly those involving or related to former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is also his close friend. Daim is also widely speculated to be funding the Opposition coalition’s campaign.

Though Daim has yet to comment on speculation that he is funding the campaign, he has promised to build 1,500 houses for people in Langkawi, and a new hospital in Pendang if PH is voted in, Kadir added.

“Yes the construction of the hospital has been postponed many times. We will look into it once we are voted in,” Daim said.

Kadir, who used to be New Straits Times group editor-in-chief, has been seen following Daim and Mahathir in talks organised by the Opposition coalition.

In a talk organised by Pendang Parliamentary candidate Wan Saiful Wan Jan for voters who were mostly farmers, Daim said there can be no improvement in the lives of padi farmers as long as they carry on in that trade.

“Have you heard of a padi farmer becoming a millionaire? Malays are still far behind although we have been independent for 60 years. Let Mahathir win, he has come back to fight for the country, for people’s wellbeing. He is sacrificing in his old age for us. You want to deny him that?” he said.

He told the people that it was during Mahathir’s 22 years' tenure as Prime Minister that highways, Kuala Lumpur International Airport and Kuala Lumpur City Centre were built.

“The cost of living did not go up during his time and the goods and services tax was not introduced then. So please vote for candidates with the eye logo so it will remind you to open your eyes,” Daim added.

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