Jackpot Question Raised To Bring Unity - NS Menteri Besar

SEREMBAN, Dec 5 (Bernama) -- A jackpot question thrown by Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in his winding up speech at the Umno General Assembly 2012 was intended to remind party members to take heed of internal squabbles during the 2008 general election, said Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.

"Barisan Nasional (BN) lost a number of seats in Negeri Sembilan due to due to internal conflicts and sabotage by leaders who were not selected as candidates then.

"I have often said that we had lost then not due to the might of the opposition, but rather disunity and internal bickering, so Umno president gave a timely reminder by throwing the jackpot question," Mohamad told reporters after chairing the state executive council meeting here today.

In his winding up speech, Najib gave five possible answers to his jackpot question in the event that a person is not selected as a candidate, namely: fully support the candidate chosen by the party; support; don't work; sabotage; or defect to another party.

Mohamad, who is also Negeri Sembilan Umno liaison committee chairman, said the prime minister was worried that Umno would be besieged by internal factors, rather than the opposition's forays in the run up to the looming general election.

"Party members can report any attempt to sabotage or weaken the party to a special committee set up to act against saboteurs, the Umno disciplinary board, the party's management, or Umno Online to enable investigations to be carried out," he added.