Umno Lembah Pantai division chief Raja Nong Chik Zainal Abidin today said he procured "more business" during the time of former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad but is choosing to remain loyal to the current leadership.

Speaking at the Lembah Pantai division meeting here, the former Federal Territories minister stressed on the importance for Umno to move forward, after departure of several top leaders who had criticised prime minister Najib Abdul Razak.

"I would like to be frank...My income (rezeki) was much better during Tun Mahathir’s time.

"I got more business during Tun Mahathir’s time but now it’s more difficult to get business...," said Raja Nong Chik at the meeting officiated by Umno deputy president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

"However, for the sake of party discipline, this Umno division, regardless of a win or not, will stick by the leadership of Datuk Seri Najib and Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi," he said.

"I think we have wasted enough time. I think we should just concentrate on the 14th general elections and forget all about our old friends...," he said.

Umno last month sacked deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin and former Kedah Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir, while vice president Shafie Apdal quit the party after Umno suspended his membership. Mahathir also recently quit the party.

Muhyiddin has since registered a new party - Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia - with Mahathir as chairperson and Mukhriz as treasurer. The party is touted to attract support from disgruntled Umno members.

Redelineation for Lembah Pantai

In his speech, Raja Nong Chik also touched on the need to carry out a redelineation exercise for Lembah Pantai.

"Now that our friends who were acting like sheeps in wolves clothing have formed a new party, we do not need to worry anymore.

"Focus on the elections...and one of the way would be through carrying out a redelineation exercise," he said.

When met later, Raja Nong Chik however said the redelineation exercise is not to ensure BN's victory.

"The borders in KL have changed...There was no Bangsar South 15 years ago.

"The last redelineation exercise was carried out in 2004. Many things have changed since then," he said.

His remarks come after Malacca Chief Minister Idris Haron urged the Election Commission to create three new seats in the state to help BN in the polls.

Commenting on this, Raja Nong Chik said: "I don't agree with his statement because redelineation should (only) be done to respect the physical movement of people."

Idris had proposed the addition of three state seats, one in the BN's parliament seat of Tangga Batu, and another two in the Bukit Katil parliamentary constituency held by PKR.