[See below for editor's note]

A Malacca delegate wants BN component parties that cannot win back their seats in the next general election to hand these seats to Umno or other parties.

In debating the party president’s address, Hasnoor Sidang Hussein said those who lost in the 2008 election and cannot win their seats back should hand the seats to Umno to try and win them back.

"Umno has made sacrifices in allowing BN component party members to contest in Malay majority seats, besides those members who contest in Chinese majority areas," Hasnoor said.

"This is because the Malays and Umno, in the spirit of BN, are very accommodating. However, if they are unsure of winning back the seats in the next general election, they should return these to Umno."

Hasnoor said candidates who could not win in some areas in Malacca should give those seats to Umno or other parties.
                                        
"This is to ensure that the seats are winnable and for BN to register a victory," he said.

NONEIn the past, there were some Umno leaders who have urged component parties to return their seats to Umno to ensure that the party and BN could register victories in those seats in an election.

For example, in Malacca, they have asked that the Bachang state seat, which was given to Gerakan, which lost it in 2004 and again in 2008, to be returned to Umno or to be given to another component party to win.

Hasnoor said there were two views on winnable candidates, that is, winnable in the eyes of Umno and winnable in the eyes of BN.

"What is important is for BN to register a victory, for we have to look at the bigger picture and these are things that other component party members should realise," he said.

There are some other states asking for seats among component parties to be switched to ensure that BN registers a victory, for example the Batu and Kepong parliamentary seats in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur.

Indians in DAP should resign

Later, Hasnoor challenged the Indian members in DAP to resign following the inappropriate "metallic black" remark about Perak Menteri Besar Zambry Abdul Kadir made by a DAP leader.

NONEHasnoor said it was a derogatory remark that was not only racist but discriminatory to the physical attributes of a person.

"As if there are no members or leaders who do not possess such skin colour in the DAP, as remarked by Perak's Nga Kor Ming.

"Truly, DAP has shown its chauvinistic self and racist stance for coming up with the remark," he said.

Hasnoor claimed that Nga had also said that Zambry had entered through the back door.

He asked what this meant, adding that he knew an opposition politician who liked to enter through the back door.

"I do not have to say his name, but everyone knows," he said to laughter from the delegates.

Nga made the "metallic black" remark about Zambry last week but had since withdrawn it and apologised.

No thank you from the opposition

Hasnoor also said that the opposition, claiming to be champions of human rights and democracy, had championed for the abolishment of the Internal Security Act.

"However, when the Umno president announced the abolishment of the ISA, there was no mention of thanks from Anwar Ibrahim or other opposition leaders.

"Even Ambiga (Sreenevasan) did not say thank you. At least say thanks to the prime minister and support him for this reform," he said.

This, Hasnoor added, showed that the opposition was inconsistent in politics and the people, especially the Malays, should realise this.

Umno committed to recapturing Penang

Penang delegate Musa Sheikh Fadzir said that although there were many opposition leaders hailing from Penang, the state Umno as committed to recapturing the state.

PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu, DAP chairperson Karpal Singh, secretary-general "Khalifah Umar Abdul Aziz Lim Guan Eng" and PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim are all from Penang, he said.

"Despite the uphill battle, Umno Penang is committed to regain the state from the opposition.

"Who is Anwar, for he has not contributed much to Penang, but yet he aspires to be the prime minister. Similarly with Mat Sabu, who is he but an incapable leader?" Musa added.

[PHOTO GALLERY]

Editor's note: We had earlier erroneously attributed these remarks on BN component parties to Musa Sheikh Fadzir. The error has been corrected. We regret the error.


Related stories

'Winnable candidate' concept fuels sabotage fears

Umno veeps 'step aside' report too hot to handle?

Delegate: GLCs should hire from Umno

For Umno, three routes to 1Goal

Umno's unbridled rhetoric: PM uncorks the genie

Focus on unemployment and inflation

'Be loyal though not deemed winnable candidates'

Opposition leaders are liars, say Umno delegates

On bangsat, barua, bapok and pondan

A competition on who's more racist