Umno needs better info system in Kelantan

KOTA BARU: The failure to clarify local issues and lack of religious personalities have been identified as among the causes of Barisan
Nasional’s (BN) defeat in Kelantan in the 13th general election last May.

Kelantan Umno Liaison Committee chairman Mustapa Mohamed said another factor was the weaknesses of the party’s information machinery.

“In the post-mortem conducted recently, these are the three main causes for BN’s defeat in Kelantan and these will be rectified in our preparation for the 14th general election (GE14).

“The Kelantan Umno will make earlier preparation for GE14 and this requires high commitment from Umno leaders and members,” he said after the assembly of the new state Umno divisional leaders here yesterday.

In the GE13, BN won 12 of the 45 state seats and five of the 14 parliamentary seats in Kelantan. Prior to the GE13, BN only had seven state seats and two parliamentary seats.

Mustapa, who is International Trade and Industry Minister, said he believed that if local issues could be clarified to the people, they would understand the matter and this would help them to make the right choice when the time came.

“The issues include water and logging. If these issues can be explained well, the people will understand. That is why we need a strong information machinery.

Earlier in his speech, Mustapa hoped the Kelantan Umno would bring change in GE14 and be back in power in Kelantan.

“There are many more factors that led to our defeat, including the never-ending internal bickering,” he added.