Umno Padang Besar MP Zahidi Zainul Abidin insists he has done nothing wrong in accepting the adviser post in the newly formed Penang Front Party (PFP), despite disapproval from state Umno.

As far as he knew, he said, BN and Umno president-cum-Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak is also the adviser of the Hindu-based Malaysia Makkal Sakti Party, and “there is no problem there”.

Najib had launched Makkal Sakti on Oct 10, 2009 and had said at that time that he would work with any party or NGO that backed his 1Malaysia slogan.

“PFP is a Chinese party and they asked my advice on contesting against DAP. So I gave my advice. They did not say they want to contest Umno seats, so that is fine with me,” Zahidi told Malaysiakini when contacted.

“Umno should not be worried because it has nothing to do with Umno. MCA and Gerakan can also ask my advice, as long as they are anti-DAP, I will advise them,” he added.

Zahidi said his actions were neither “unethical nor inappropiate”, nor had he wronged Umno since he was advising the PFP members as a friend and had not joined the new party.

He added that he only advised PFP on its plan to contest 25 seats in Penang against DAP, as the party was new and inexperienced.

After all, he is a Penangite and had won the Padang Besar parliamentary seat for Umno with a handsome majority, he added.

Zahidi was responding to Penang Umno liaison committee chief Zainal Abidin Osman's strong objections towards PFP as well as Zahidi’s adviser post.

Zainal said Zahidi’s role in PFP was never raised in the Umno supreme council meetings or in Penang Umno’s liaison committee meetings.

He added that Penang Umno could never accept PFP as the 25 seats it plans to contests are the same ones Umno’s allies MCA and Gerakan are vying for.

Asked for PFP’s credential and why it is confident of contesting against DAP, Zahidi said the former has the support of more than 120 NGOs now.

Since the past year, PFP has managed to obtain signatures from NGOs and individuals who support their plan to contest against DAP, Zahidi added.

'Casino not for Muslims'

Zainal earlier today had also chided Zahidi for not being sensitive to Muslim sensitivities when he supported PFP, which plans to build a casino to boost tourism in the state.

But Zahidi dismissed this, saying that he only advised PFP on the seats and not the casino.

However, he added that it was “okay for Umno to object” and he understood the party's sentiments.

“The request for a casino comes from PFP because it is a Chinese party, it has nothing to do with Umno.

“With the casino, their intention is to offer 50,000 job opportunities to all, including the Chinese, who under DAP, have no jobs.

“Economy is down and factories are closing under the DAP. PFP plans to ask for RM3 billion for the casino project,” Zahidi said.

He said the casino could attract tourists, and the money or taxes derived from it could go to housing, education fund, and to help the poor Chinese.

Zahidi said the casino would not be for the Muslims, and wondered why Umno was worried about the presence of one in Penang.

“Gambling is everywhere. Why is Umno only protesting against the casino when Magnum, Da Ma Cai and Sports Toto are also gambling? Why protest against one and allow the others?” he asked.