Umno Perak GE15 defeat due to separation, sabotage

LENGGONG - Internal sabotage was a main factor identified to have caused Umno's defeat in Perak in the 15th General Elections (GE15).

Perak Umno chairman Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said this was identified through post-mortem reports conducted after Umno only managed to win nine out of the 59 State Legislative Assembly seats in Perak.

He said internal separation caused the failure for Umno to defend seats they previously won where some members were willing to use their time during campaigning to attack and respond to accusations made by their own party members.

"It's hard for me to explain but this is one of the reasons for our defeat. In a situation where enemies were attacking from all directions, there were also those among us who were tearing us apart.

"There were even those who had conspired to make sure the party's candidates were defeated and the enemy won. It's a bitter fact, but this was the reality," he said in his speech during Lenggong Umno Representative Meeting in Kolej Kemahiran Tinggi Mara Lenggong Hall here today.

Saarani said, apart from that, the party's defeat was also due to their failures to tackle the narratives spread in cyberspace where their enemies managed to plant hatred for Umno on social media platforms and influence the young people to reject Umno.

He also admitted that the party's failure to understand the thinking of the youth also contributed to their defeat in Perak even though the party had presented strong vision for the youth in their manifesto.

In the meantime, Saarani, who is also Lenggong Umno chief, said that the decision to form Perak government with Pakatan Harapan (PH) was made after the major role was given to Umno to get out of their political crisis.

He said the coalition had restored Umno's path by being members of the state government which symbolised togetherness and guaranteed the government's stability.

He said that Umno's survival in the long term was taken into account when the party decided to form a government with PH.