Lies Will Not Affect Umno's Chances In General Election

PUTRAJAYA, July 27 (Bernama) -- Lies and distorted facts levelled by certain bloggers in their blog sites will not in any way affect Umno's chances of winning seats in the next general election, party secretary-general Datuk Seri Radzi Sheikh Ahmad said Friday.
"No, I don't think so. Umno is strong and getting stronger," Radzi said when asked if these allegations would hurt the chances of the party, which is the largest political party in the country and the backbone of the ruling Barisan Nasional, in the general election.
He was speaking to reporters after presenting the MyPR card to Malaysian badminton doubles coach Rexy Mainaky, at the Home Ministry here. With the presentation of the card, Rexy, an Indonesian, is now a permanent resident in Malaysia.
Radzi, who is Home Minister, said bloggers had been given "a lot of freedom" under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi but this did not give them the right to abuse the freedom granted.
"They should not ridicule religion, or the King...their allegations have no basis at all. It would be good if they could come up with ideas and suggestions for the betterment of the government," he said.
On Monday, Umno Information chief senator Tan Sri Muhammad Muhamad Taib lodged a police report against blogsite Malaysia Today for carrying articles deemed to have insulted the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
He claimed that statements and comments posted in the blogsite dated July 11 were deemed to have contravened the Penal Code, Sedition Act and the Communication and Multimedia Act.
The police report also alleged that the blog site had insulted and poked fun at Islam as the official religion of the federation and incited hatred among the various races which could affect unity and national security.
Asked if Muhammad's police report could be considered a report lodged by Umno, Radzi said: "Well, he is the information chief and whatever he does officially is the representation of Umno".
Radzi said the top Umno leaders had on several occasions met to discuss the lies spread through blog sites and a decision was made to lodge a police report to investigate the blogger of the site.
On another note, Radzi said there was no need for guidelines on the resolutions passed at the party's divisional meetings, which are now underway.
Several Umno divisions had passed resolutions calling for a no contest for the party presidency and deputy presidency during their meetings recently.
"It is still too early (to pass a resolution like that). Umno members are mature, they don't need a set of guidelines for this purpose. The resolutions they pass go by issues and time," he said.
Earlier this year, Umno decided to defer its party polls this year to give importance to the general election, which is widely expected to be held within the next eight months.
Radzi clarified today that according to the party constitution, Umno could defer the party elections for 18 months starting from November 2007.

tunku : radzi you're righr umno is strong but it's not getting stronger believe me. i am an umno member too. i guess most of you still have the habits of day dreaming which one day could destroy umno. certainly the lies will effect umno's performance in the next general election if it's not dealt with.people will certainly believe it if there are no efforts make to counter it.there are more serious issues in malaysia today's article that the umno leader should take action against it but choose to report on the agong and islam issues only. by doing this other allegations in malaysia today will look like true facts.