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Dr M claims Umno will only help flood victims who will vote for them

KUALA LUMPUR: As the country heads into the 15th General Election (GE15) amid the possibility of massive floods, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has claimed that Umno will use government machinery to help Umno-friendly voters.

He said since Umno and Barisan Nasional were in control of the government machinery, they would abuse everything at their disposal to ensure victory in GE15.

"This is what Umno is hoping for, that with the floods, the voter turnout will be low.

"They are in control of all government machinery to move voters.

"So they will help and take their own voters to vote, but supporters of the opposition will not have that privilege.

"This is a dirty trick played by Umno, but it is typical of them, because when Umno is not strong, they will abuse whatever powers they have," he said at a press conference at the Perdana Leadership Foundation in Putrajaya today.

He said Umno wanted an election during the monsoon season to take advantage of opposition parties' unpreparedness.

"This way, when they win, the first move will be to ask the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to pardon (former prime minister) Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

"Najib is Umno's first objective. The early GE15 is not about the welfare of the people or the impending floods, but it is about releasing Najib from jail and for (Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad) Zahid Hamidi's charges to be dropped."

He said despite knowing that the people would be burdened and possibly hurt during the floods, the government had acted mercilessly by dissolving Parliament yesterday.

Asked about the snap polls he called in 1999 during his first tenure as prime minister, Dr Mahathir said the situation then was different.

"In '99, the weather did not change much. Climate change wasn't (as serious a problem as it is now).

"This time around, we know about the severe floods happening all around the world, the strong winds and storms occurring.

"This is not a suitable time for GE15. But of course, Umno being Umno, abusing power is endemic in that party."

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