Padang Serai by-election 'an opportunity for Umno to rise back'

The Padang Serai parliamentary by-election is an opportunity for Umno to clear its image and spur its revival in politics, former Umno information chief Shahril Hamdan said today.

Umno has to revive itself and bounce back, as the Dec 7 Padang Serai by-election will be an opportunity for Umno to prove its worth by going back to the people to seek support.

Shahril said Umno has to apologise to the people for losing their trust and confidence.

He said the party has to apologise to the people and the people are not to be blamed for the defeat of Umno.

"We have to accept this reality and have to do the necessary to repair the image (of Umno) and rise back in the next five years.

"We have to collectively take responsibility for the Umno's defeat in PRU15. It is not a mistake of any individual, but it is the leadership as a whole that has to take the responsibility," he said.

Shahril said this during a Padang Serai parliamentary by-election walkabout in Lunas in the Kulim district of Kedah today.

Also present were the BN candidate, C Sivaraajh and Padang Serai Umno division chief Asmadi Abu Talib.

The election for the Padang Serai parliamentary seat will see a six-cornered contest. It was put off in the Nov 19 general election following the death of Pakatan Harapan's candidate, M Karupaiya, two days earlier. 

Shahril said Umno only won 20 seats in the peninsula and 10 seats in Sabah and Sarawak.

"There is something fundamentally wrong with the Umno leadership and governance and Umno has never been seen as anti-corruption and fighting corruption practices.

"But Umno has defended those involved in corrupt practices and sidelined the issues. Has the party championed a clean government or has the leadership dared to declare their assets?

"Now, Umno has to clear its image to survive in politics and Padang Serai is an opportunity to rise back in politics," he added.

"Umno must not give up on the results of GE15 but rise back in our struggle to serve the Malays.

"Spike the disappointment and go with the spirit to rise again to win the hearts of the people.

"We have to find the formula and approach and landscape, review our own mistakes and convince the people, and the fence sitters, to support Umno and BN," he added.

Shahril, who contested in Alor Gajah parliamentary constituency in Malacca, lost to Adly Zahari of Harapan. Sharil gained 27,888 votes, while Adly received 28,178 votes.

Last week, Shahril quit his position as Umno information chief, after losing the Alor Gajah election.

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