Pagoh UMNO's strong support towards party, leadership due to loyalty principle

The support from Pagoh UMNO members towards the party and its leadership is still strong because all of them are holding fast to the concept of loyalty emphasised by Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin when he was still a party member.

As such, Pagoh UMNO Division acting chief Ismail Mohamed said as Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) president, Muhyiddin should not feel upset if his party was not well-received by the people in Pagoh.

"We were taught to be loyal to the party," he told Bernama when met at the 2016 UMNO General Assembly at the Putra World Trade Centre here today.

According to Ismail, several work programmes carried out in the Pagoh constituency including through meetings with UMNO branch members, implementation of the Jalinan Rakyat by the Wanita UMNO movement and gathering of young people were well received.

"Alhamdulillah (praise be to Allah), when we are carrying out the work programmes...all of them still love UMNO, they still support Barisan Nasional (BN)," said Ismail who is also Bukit Serampang assemblyman.

Ismail was appointed the acting Pagoh UMNO chief with immediate effect after the dismissal of Muhyiddin who is also Pagoh member of Parliament (MP) on June 24, 2016.

Ismail who was said to be ready to challenge the incumbent Muhyiddin if he was asked to do so said the decision was made to continue UMNO's struggles in championing the cause of the people in Pagoh and not to seek revenge.

After more than 20 years with the Pagoh UMNO, Ismail said he felt obliged to continue the party's struggles in the constituency after the absence of Muhyiddin.