Difficult for dropped Umno incumbents to win seats - Shahrir

GE15 | Dropped Umno incumbents now contesting against BN in the 15th general election (GE15) are likely to face difficulties in defending their seats, said a senior Umno leader.

Johor Bahru Umno division chief Shahrir Samad said there is also no room for Umno to take them back after the elections.

“I wouldn’t know exactly, but generally they would face difficulties,” said Shahrir when met after a function last night where he stumped for BN’s Johor Bahru candidate, Johan Ariffin Ropi.

“But then, of course, the party warlords have money, which is one of the important things when facing elections,” he added.

“We wouldn’t be so desperate (to take them back). They have been sacked and we will make do with what we have,” he said.

BN’s shake-up of its Perlis line-up prior to nominations day had prompted Arau incumbent Shahidan Kassim and Padang Besar incumbent Zahidi Zainul Abidin to defend their seats on a PN and Independent ticket respectively.

Zahidi is also contesting as an independent in the Titi Tinggi state seat against BN and others.

In Pahang, BN’s Maran incumbent Ismail Abd Muttalib is also defending his seat on a PN ticket.

Shahrir also said the situation today was unlike when he defended his own seat as an independent candidate against Umno in the 1988 by-election, triggered by his own resignation as Johor Bahru MP.

At that time, Shahrir had been sacked from Umno in the events leading up to the 1988 judicial crisis.

He later rejoined Umno in 1989 and sat out of three subsequent general elections until 2004, when he returned to contest in Johor Bahru and defended the seat for another three terms until 2013.

Umno promoting younger leaders

Earlier in his speech, Shahrir said Umno has discarded its usual ways of promoting leaders in Johor and is now giving way to younger leaders to lead the state.

He said the changes had started with the selection of Johor menteri besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi, going against Umno’s tradition of rising to the post from its division to the state level.

“This in itself reflected the urgent need for Umno to change. We should not just continue with the usual practice. And of course, the new state assembly members from Umno are mainly young and new, and in the end, we have a very strong working majority,” Shahrir said at the event with Johor Bahru Indian communities and NGOs.

On Johan’s candidacy, Shahrir said the Johor Bahru Umno division had shortlisted six names from among members who volunteered, and eventually a decision was made to field a new young face in the seat.

“I knew Johan for a while, he was my special officer.

“What I noticed about this man is that he can think outside the box,” said Shahrir.

At the heart of Southern Johor, the contest for Johor Bahru will see Harapan incumbent Akmal Nasir defending his seat against Johan, Perikatan Nasional’s Mohd Mohtaj Yacob, and Pejuang’s Mohd Akhiri Mahmood.

Day 14 | Anwar at final rally: Nation's leader must be compassionate

In Lembah Pantai, Fahmi tackles some unwavering BN resistance

Gombak rumble: PN, BN amp up anti-DAP narrative at Malay-majority seat

COMMENT | How Ijok sheds light on Harapan’s current surge

COMMENT | Remember, M’sians: Together, we achieve more

COMMENT | Save the country, choose the right PM

YOURSAY | Ignore the surveys, get out and vote tomorrow