A member of the Negri Sembilan royal family said that even though BN has now moved to appoint ‘winnable candidates’ for the coming general election, these people would still be infected by the “virus” of corruption.

Tunku Harmy Tunku Hanan, who is the cousin of Negri Sembilan Yang di-Pertuan Besar Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir, said this at a ceramah attended by some 500 people in Kampung Pasir Baru, Pantai Dalam last night.

“They (BN) now want to find winnable candidates, they want to appoint young, intelligent lawyers and doctors (as candidates) but even if you appoint a religious ustaz, when they enter the party (Umno) they will be infected by the virus and it’s a gone case,” he said.

NONE He added that the problem was with Umno itself, citing Federal Territories Minister Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin ( right ) as an example.

“I knew him since he was young. He came from a good family that do not indulge in corruption, there was no need for it since his family was wealthy.

“But recently I heard his daughter has received a RM30 million project. That is the problem with Umno, when good people like this join their ranks, they get infected with the virus,” he said.

Raja Nong Chik did not confirm or deny the allegation but had explained that there was no conflict of interest in the RM30 million deal.

Tunku Harmy was speaking at a ceramah organised for Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar, whose rival for the next general election is widely expected to be Raja Nong Chik.

Nurul: We don’t hold grudges

The ceramah last night proceeded peacefully and was the first since violence broke out at a previous ceramah in the Lembah Pantai constituency.

kerinchi pantai dalam pkr ceramah 250512 “If Umno wants to abuse the government machinery for their campaign, then fine, but do not go until the extent of trying to sabotage us,” said Nurul Izzah in her speech, in reference to the last ceramah in which stones and eggs were allegedly thrown at them by Umno supporters.

Umno, too had claimed that its supporters were injured during the side-by-side ceramah.

She added that despite the recent effort by BN to use the might of federal government to freeze and unfreeze student loans to Selangor-owned varsities in an attempt to “test” the opposition's policy on free education, the Pakatan Rakyat-led Selangor government had never victimised their counterpart.

“When Umno wants to hold a ceramah, even though we may not like what they say, but we still provide them the venue... even for welfare aid, we do not deny their rights.

“We do not hold grudges and we do not deny Umno’s rights,” she said.

The ceramah last night also saw the launch of the Nurul Izzah Club (NIC) in the run-up to the general election widely, expected to be called this year.