Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah has lauded the prime minister's announcement on the need for firm action against members who betrayed and sabotaged the party and Barisan Nasional (BN) candidates.     

The Gua Musang member of parliament said, this was the first time an announcement was made on the need to set up a special committee to monitor and take firm action against the perpetrators, in view of the coming general election.     

"We also do not want stringent action to be taken after the general election, as was done by the party disciplinary committee in the past.     

"This is because, the people would not bothered anymore as it would be too late," he said after launching the Gua Musang Parliament 2012 Healthy Eating Mini Carnival, Gua Musang today.     

Tengku Razaleigh, who is also Gua Musang Umno division head, does not want the party leadership to parachute in candidates but pick those who had the blessings of the divisions.     

He said this was imperative to prevent members of the party from sabotaging candidates who were not approved by the divisions.   

In another development, Tengku Razaleigh said the government would open up plantations to grow the manau rattan ('Calamus manan') next year, as an alternative income for the orang asli.     

He said the project had a bright prospect as demand was high in the international market for rattan as it could be used for making handicraft.     

"The Orang Asli are used to selling manau rattan which they harvest in the jungles, but the activity is badly affected by the dwindling vegetation," he said during a meeting and handing over of aid to the orang asli in Pos Pasik, Gua Musang.     

- Bernama