Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin today said the slew of problems plaguing the Selangor government meant that the state was ripe for the BN's taking.

NONE Among the problems, he said, was the Talam issue as well as the water and sand controversies that he claimed have dogged the Pakatan Rakyat-led state government.

"If we talk about Selangor's problems, the ingredients are enough for us to convince the rakyat that the Pakatan government is incapable of serving Selangor well. That is clear.

"But the question is, are we ready (to retake Selangor)?" he said at the Selayang Umno divsion representative assembly this morning.

At this, some 800 delegates replied with a lukewarm response in the positive, but there were also screams of "No" from the floor.

Appearing slightly taken aback, the deputy premier said the "eco-system" in Selangor was ready for a Pakatan defeat, but warned that in-fighting may cost the BN the chance to retake the state.

Muhyiddin added that some divisions are continuing to fight each other to the extent that he had to personally meet with these problematic divisions.

Muhyiddin in Selayang "When I meet the division chiefs and deputies, they say all is well and even shook hands with each other during Hari Raya. But I give them one hour, in five minutes they explode.

"They accuse the Wanita chief, or Puteri chief or Youth chief of conducting programmes without the divisions' knowledge, am I right?" he asked, to which the delegates responded, "Right!"

Reigning in the delegates, Muhyiddin pointed out that he was referring to other divisions and not Selayang Umno.

"But if you are doing this, then obviously you will feel it," he said, breaking into laughter.

'Trust the leaders, don't sabotage'

Muhyiddin pointed out that despite BN winning two of three state seats within the Selayang parliamentary constituency, its candidate for MP still lost in the last general election.

"I asked the Selayang Umno division chief how could this be possible, he told me it was sabotage. When people did that (sabotage), they did not think that we would lose the state. Now even if we cry tears of blood it has been lost.

biggest bn banner ad billboard 070308 "So think about that, don't do it (sabotage) if it will bring harm to the party," he said.

In the 2008 polls, Umno won two of three state seats in the Selayang parliamentary constituency, namely Taman Templer and Kuang.

Despite this, MCA's candidate for Selayang MP fell. MCA also vied for the other state seat of Rawang and lost.

"How could our parliamentary candidate lose?" asked Muhyiddin, to which some in the audience responded, "(They were) not popular!"

"Unpopular candidate is secondary, the core question is we need to trust in our leadership and be loyal to the party... only then can we win," said Muhyiddin.

                               

The deputy premier reminded delegates that the party will appoint "incognito observers" to identify internal saboteurs during election time and action would be taken against them.

He also urged Umno delegates not to demand the Selayang parliamentary seat from MCA, adding that a win for MCA is also a win for the BN.

"So when our president decides the candidates for Selayang, do not think too long, just do your duty to wrest back Selangor," he exhorted.