'We have no seats for you,' Dr M tells Shahidan, Annuar and Tajuddin

Gerakan Tanah Air (GTA) chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad today expressed his sympathy towards incumbent Umno MPs who were dropped by the party from contesting in the upcoming 15th general election.

In his speech at the GTA candidates announcement event today, Mahathir said he believed some of the seasoned Umno leaders were dropped because they were not on the same page with Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

"I feel sad seeing what had happened to them. Like Shahidan (Kassim), Annuar Musa and Tajuddin (Abdul Rahman) and several others who were dropped (by BN).

"The reason they were dropped, I believe, was because they are not Umno president's people. He only wanted his people to become candidates.

"However, for us (GTA), there is no such issue. Although some of us may be disappointed because they are not picked to become candidates, there was no such thing as dropping people," he said.

Later, when asked if any of them came to him after being dropped, the former prime minister replied in the negative.

"No. And there was no plan to meet them either. Besides, our seats are full already," he told reporters.

Last night, BN candidates’ announcement revealed that many incumbent MPs including seasoned politicians such as Annuar (Ketereh), Tajuddin (Pasir Salak), and Shahidan (Arau) were not picked to represent the ruling coalition.

‘BN worshipper of money’

Meanwhile, in his speech at the event, Mahathir threw shade at BN, saying that the coalition was a worshipper of money.

He said GTA won't be like BN, where the coalition would try to do good for the country.

"We will do all the good things, not guided by the phrase 'cash is king'. To them, cash is king. That is the king that they worship every day.

"They worship money, not God."

Mahathir also told GTA candidates and members at the event that they have a duty to convince GTA supporters to go out to cast their ballot on the polling day.

Not voting, he added, would be akin to voting Umno and letting the ruling coalition win.

In a related matter, Mahathir confirmed that former inspector-general of police Abdul Hamid Bador is not contesting.

According to Mahathir, the former top cop "felt that he was not ready yet".

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