NOT EVERYONE IS AS DESPICABLE AS UMNO: BERSATU CANDIDATES WILL LOSE BECAUSE THEY WILL SPEND ALLOCATIONS ON THEMSELVES – UMNO’S ZAHIDI

Bersatu will not be able to win in the 14th general election as its candidates are cash-strapped, said Umno’s Padang Besar MP Zahidi Zainul Abidin.

Zahidi said candidates in such a situation would likely end up spending allocations for themselves, instead of spending the funds on voters.

“If the candidates have not had money for a long time, then Bersatu gives them an allocation, they would use it for themselves, instead of the kampung folk, who will end up losing,” he said in an interview.

As such, Zahidi said, all candidates must, to some extent, have solid finances.

Kedah, which has a total of 15 parliamentary seats, is considered a frontline state for Bersatu.

It is the home state of former prime minister and Bersatu chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is now on a warpath with Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Mahathir’s son Mukhriz (photo), once a menteri besar under Umno, was ousted in February 2016.

Mukhriz was sacked from Umno in June 2016 and he went on to become a founding member of the splinter party Bersatu. He is Bersatu deputy president.

Bersatu is looking to capture the remaining 10 parliamentary seats in Kedah that are still under Umno’s control.

Of the remaining five opposition-controlled seats, four belong to PKR and one is held by PAS.

The battle for Kedah is expected to be spearheaded by Bersatu and PKR, with each contesting six parliamentary seats, while Amanah will contest in three. PAS has realigned itself as a third force.

In neighbouring Perlis, where Zahidi hails from, Bersatu is also expected to take a leading role as it will contest two out of the three parliamentary seats there. The third seat will be contested by PKR.

Apart from financial challenges, Zahidi said Bersatu has another hurdle it has to confront, namely PAS.

“The seats in northern (peninsula) are quite marginal. PAS and Bersatu do have their strengths in the north.

“It’s just that Umno is lucky because hardcore PAS supporters will not support the opposition (Pakatan Harapan).

“They will listen to (PAS president) Abdul Hadi Awang, so the (opposition) votes will be split,” Zahidi said.

– M’kini