PUTRAJAYA: Not immune to the occasional gaffe, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, in an address to Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) delegates today, had mistakenly referred them as Umno members, his former party.
The slip of the tongue caused the party chairman to smile sheepishly, hold out his arms towards the crowd and grabbed his songkok, during the closing speech at the party’s 2nd annual general assembly, here, this afternoon.
The Prime Minister’s verbal snafu happened when he was speaking about the need for party members to play a role in both the political and non-political landscapes in their respective areas.
“We should play a role locally. Not just in the party but also other general activities in our (respective) areas.
“This include taking part in Parent-Teacher Associations meet in schools as well as other bodies like sporting societies.
“(Fellow) Umno members…” he said, amid laughter and claps from the audience.
Quick to realise his mistake, Dr Mahathir said he was merely trying to say something about Umno.
“No, I was not mistaken. I wanted to say that Umno members are ‘penipu besar’ (big liars),” he said to cheers from the audience.
Dr Mahathir then went on o remind party members and leaders to make the effort in serving the people by taking up positions in non-political bodies in their respective areas.
Six days before the May 9 polls that saw Pakatan Harapan taking over Putrajaya, Dr Mahathir had mistakenly told a gathering at Pantai Dalam, Kuala Lumpur, to support Barisan Nasional (BN) candidates.
However, he quickly laughed off the incident and said that it was due to old habit.
