GUA MUSANG: Rembia assemblyman Datuk Muhammad Jailani Khamis claimed that several former Umno leaders from Melaka have left the party to join Perikatan Nasional (PN).
Speaking at a ceramah in Serian, Jailani alleged that these defectors included the former Alor Gajah Umno Youth division chief and the former Melaka Umno Youth secretary.
He said these individuals decided to leave Umno after realising that the state of the country was deteriorating.
"Tonight, I have brought several former Melaka Umno leaders with me who have left the party to join PN.
"They have come to see that the current leaders of the country cannot be trusted. Despite numerous promises, these leaders have failed to deliver."
Jailani added that what citizens, including those in Nenggiri, desired were leaders who could ensure their future and uphold their values.
"The people of this country, including Nenggiri voters, do not want leaders who have driven the country into debt and caused diesel prices to rise," he added.
He also criticised the former Nenggiri assemblyman, Mohd Azizi Abu Naim, who left PN to secure federal allocations.
"Perhaps the former assemblyman realised it was difficult to survive as an opposition member of Parliament, or maybe he fears being sued RM100 million like me, so he found that it was better to leave."
Jailani said the other party contesting in the upcoming Nenggiri by-election fielded a young contractor.
"Nenggiri had an assemblyman who left the party for financial reasons. Now, if they choose a Barisan Nasional candidate, they risk getting 'a company representative' rather than a dedicated leader."