UMNO ASSEMBLY Johor Umno has urged the government to investigate claims of alleged wrongdoing leading to the loss of Batu Puteh to Singapore.

Debating the president’s address, delegate Zulkurnain Kamisan said that this is because it affects national sovereignty.

“Investigate these claims as it also involves the party’s dignity. We can’t take it lightly.

“We want the truth. If what was claimed is true then it is truly a betrayal to the country,” he said at the Umno general assembly.

This comes just as it was revealed that former top cop Mat Zain Ibrahim has been quizzed by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) over claims he made in a statutory declaration over the Batu Puteh matter.

NONE Among others, Mat Zain claimed that the Malaysian legal team undermined their case by submitting a doctored photo as evidence of Batu Puteh’s proximity to the International Court of Justice in the territorial dispute.

Meanwhile, Zulkurnain joined the debate bandwagon in lamenting diminishing support from the Chinese community for the BN.

Training his guns on BN component parties, he said Umno is growing tired of waiting for them to deliver.

“We have been waiting for so long and yet they continue to fail...

“Fulfill your promise to Malays and provide the returns to our struggle,” he said.

NONE He said Umno does not want the other component parties to be wiped out by the next polls, but  they  should also not try to outdo opposition parties.

Similarly, he urged Umno not to abandon its founding values as stated in the party constitution - that is to safeguard the fate of the race and religion.

He said safeguarding the royal institution is also part of the party’s constitution.

However, to date, the Umno-led government has been too soft on those who insult sultans, he said.

“Must Umno always do demonstrations and lodge thousands of police reports.

“The police are under the Home Ministry and must take stern action on these rascals,” he said.

The home minister is traditionally an Umno leader, with the post is currently held by Umno vice-president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.