Losing in the last general election due to a ‘Chinese tsunami' is no reason not to contest in the upcoming Umno party elections as this is a matter of championing the Malays, said former Malacca chief minister Mohd Ali Rustam.

"My defeat in the last general election was because of a tsunami by the Chinese voters.

"But if we were to compare (to the Umno elections), I can continue to champion the fate of Malays, bumiputera and Islam to ensure that it is defended according to the constitution," he was quoted as saying in Mingguan Malaysia today.

Mohd Ali, an Umno vice-president hopeful, said he could not just let slip the "Chinese tsunami" where the community was not appreciative of what he had done.

"If the Malays continue to split, their future in this country will be precarious so we need a new spirit that is fierier in defending the Malays and Islam according to the constitution.

"If I want to stop (quit politics) I could. But I can't just because of the Chinese tsunami, where they did not appreciate our efforts," he was quoted in the daily.

Surprise defeat

Just after the May 5 general election, Mohd Ali had lashed out at the Chinese community for his surprise defeat in the parliamentary seat of Bukit Katil by a 5,447-vote majority.

The seat was a mixed constituency consisting of 53 percent Malay, 41 Chinese and six percent Indian.

He had moved to the parliamentary seat from a state seat in his bid for federal politics.

At 64, Mohd Ali insists that he could still contribute to Umno if he wins one of three vice-president spots.

However, he declined to comment about his disqualification in the 2009 party polls over claims of money politics.

He added that he will be going ‘solo' in this party election and will not be forming any pact with the other five contenders.