KUALA LUMPUR: Umno leaders have been told to mind their language during campaign for the upcoming Rantau by-election.
Acting Umno president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said this was to prevent possible controversies or backlash that might prove detrimental to the party’s image.
Mohamad was answering a question on whether there was a gag order issued to Umno leaders or members following several controversial remarks made by party leader and Barisan Nasional secretary-general Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz.
“No, there is no gag order. As leaders they should know what to say, so that it will not be detrimental to the country and party’s interest.
“But I want to say that in Rantau we need to be more careful (during campaign). Sometimes we do not say (sensitive matters) but it is twisted (by certain quarters),” Mohamad told a media conference today after chairing the monthly Umno supreme council meeting.
The Rantau by-election, the seventh to be called after the 14th General Election, is being held after a five-man Federal Court bench headed by Chief Justice Tan Sri Richard Malanjum on Feb 18 upheld an Election Court decision to nullify the unopposed victory of Mohamad who was the Barisan Nasional candidate in GE 14.
Mohamad is expected to defend the seat.
On the BN supreme council meeting tomorrow, Mohamad expressed confidence that MCA and MIC would remain with the coalition despite the former’s resolution seeking for it to be disbanded.
The resolution stemmed from BN’s defeat in GE14, as well as its controversial pact with Pas.
“I am confident that MCA and MIC will remain with BN. They love the coalition. Moreover they are concerned about BN.
“We will table this matter (on BN-Pas nexus) during the meeting tomorrow. If it is accepted, it will not just be Umno-Pas pact, but BN, Pas and others.
“Now we are no longer the government. I have reminded BN components to empower themselves respectively. For Umno, we form a strategic partnership with Pas, but we not sidelining our original partners.
“MIC, for example, has openly admitted that they don’t have any objection against Umno’s cooperation with Pas. The same goes for MCA.”