KUALA LUMPUR: Umno information chief Isham Jalil has dismissed Khairy Jamaluddin's claims on the presence of "phantom delegates" during the 2022 Umno General Assembly here today.
Isham, who is also Umno Supreme Council member, also urged the former Rembau Umno division deputy chief to apologise to party delegates as well as staff stationed during the general assembly for making such accusations.
"KJ (Khairy) should know that every delegate knows the other inside the Dewan Merdeka (of the Kuala Lumpur World Trade Centre).
"They (party delegates) not only know who is sitting next to them, they also know who is sitting in the same line inside the hall.
"If there was anyone who wasn't supposed to be inside the hall, the party delegates and security will notice them," he said in a Facebook post.
In the same posting, Isham asked to Khairy to come to the venue of the assembly and identify the so-called 'phantom delegates' to support his claims.
"If not, I hope KJ will issue an apology to all party delegates for accusing them as 'imported' (phantom) delegates.
"He should also apologise to the security personnel and staff stationed during the assembly for accusing them of not executing their duties and responsibilities accordingly.
"Fitnah (slander) is (a crime) worse than murder," he said.
Earlier today, Khairy claimed phantom delegates were being brought in to add to the numbers of people who will lend their support for the voice vote for the additional motion.
He was referring to the motion for the posts of Umno president and deputy president, currently held by Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan respectively, to remain unchallenged in the upcoming party election.
Khairy claimed some of the tags of delegates, which were initially pasted on seats in Dewan Merdeka, were removed to make way for unknown delegates to be part of the voting process.
