Despite the fact that the next general election is just around the corner, the majority of Umno operation centres in nine squatter villages in the parliamentary constituency of Pasir Gudang, Johor, have been closed to protest against the menteri besar's unfulfilled promises.

abdul ghani othman bangsa malaysia 061106 talking Pasir Gudang Umno division permanent chairperson Abu Bakar Alibi told Malay daily Sinar Harian, that his men will not commence any election preparation work as they are disappointed with Menteri Besar Abdul Ghani Othman ( left ) who failed to realise his promise of giving land titles to the squatters.

He said that they would not be responsible for any of the voters' actions that may affect the chances of BN candidates in the general election should the promise made over 10 years ago remain unfulfilled.

"Currently, five operation centres have been closed. We understand that four more operation centres in the squatter villages will follow suit without any preparation for the 13th general election," he was quoted as saying.

Umno Kampung Senibong branch chief Yacob Sahadan, 68, said some 400 resident have been struggling for the land ownership issue since 1999, still with no solution in sight.

"The problems of squatters generally involve Malays, so we worry that the disappointment will affect the Malay votes in the 13th general election.

"We don't reject the development planned by the government, but please don't marginalise the original residents who have sweated to develop this land all these years," he said.

Umno Kampung Plentong Baru branch chief Mohd Saleh Arsad, 59, claimed that Abdul Ghani had made the pledge to grant land titles to the residents previously.

"This is something promised before by the menteri besar, if the promises had not been made by the menteri besar, we would not demand it.

"We will wait for the menteri besar's answer. If he still plays with riddles, we will plan a trip to meet the prime minister in the shortest time possible," he said.

Residents' joy turned to disappointment

Nordin Kasri, 49, head of the Umno Kampung Seri Makmur branch, said Abdul Ghani's promise to grant land titles to his village turned out to be a temporary occupation licence (TOL).

"The residents' joy after waiting for more than 10 years turned to disappointment when the government suddenly gave TOLs which is a temporary land licence that can be revoked by the government any time.

"Appeal letters against (the granting of TOLs) have been sent. We demand that this issue be solved immediately, or else the quiet operations centres would continue to remain closed," he added.

Pasir Gudang, a mixed parliamentary constituency with less than 50 percent of Malay voters, is currently held by Higher Education Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin who defeated PKR's Md Rizan Mohd Saman in the 2008 general election with a huge majority of 17,281 votes.

NONE On the other hand, Umno information chief Ahmad Maslan ( right ) gave stern warning that action will be taken against any member who sabotages the party during the polls. 

“I repeat to whoever attempting to boycott, there is no place for them in Umno, go and find other NGOs.

“We are serious in the general election, it is related to the future of the nation,” he said during a press conference today in  Kuala Lumpur.

However, he denied the closing of operation centres in Pasir Gudang, saying that such operation centres are only required to be opened after Feb 1.

“Meaning that they are not closed. The story about closing (of operation centres) can only happen after nomination day. We have not even started campaigning,” he added.