UMNO AGM Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad came under fire from an Umno assemblyperson for the party's electoral setbacks in 1990 and 2008.

Md Alwi Che Ahmad said Umno lost Kelantan to PAS in the 1990 general election because of his feud with Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah three years earlier.

"In the end, Umno was declared illegal but the one which received the brunt of it was Kelantan Umno.

"It didn't win any seat in the 1990 election because two prominent leaders were fighting among themselves," he added while debating Umno president Najib Abdul Razak's policy speech today.

Md Alwi said that in 2008, Mahathir had attacked then party president Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, and the ruling coalition lost its two-thirds majority.

In 1987, Tengku Razaleigh had challenged Mahathir for the party presidency but lost in the closely- fought contest.

Umno was then de-registered after Tengku Razaleigh brought the case to court, citing electoral irregularities. He then formed Semangat 46 while Mahathir formed Umno (Baru).

Meanwhile, Alwi reminded Umno deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin to use the proper platform when expressing his views.

“Azan (the call for prayers) must be done in a mosque.

“I think he was a bit mistaken when he did it not at a mosque but at Padang Merbok,” he said.

Meanwhile, Md Alwi urged all members to be united and to stay loyal to Umno. He also believes that all problems can be solved wisely.

“We cannot continue fighting; come, let us unite behind our leaders so that they become stronger.

“Problems here and there are normal. When I go home sometimes the rice is hard but if you add water, it’ll become softer,” he said in an analogy with regard to the party’s current predicament.

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