KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 3 – Secretary-General Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan said Umno had never crazed for power as alleged.

“Don’t blame Umno. Blame it on those who made various offers to stay in power. They are power crazy,” he said when commenting on negative remarks against the party.

“Things that led to state election in Melaka was not our doing although two of  them were Umno reps and each from PPBM and ex-DAP. There were allegations that Umno is power craze. This is not right.

“I am sure if the four were not offered something by other parties, especially Datuk Seri Idris Haron promised to become the Chief Minister again, he wouldn’t have left the party. He was gullibled into it.

“He wouldn’t have chucked away his exco portfolio and the four wouldn’t have done it for no purpose. I am sure there were lucrative offers for them,” he said in ‘Gegau Melaka: Bajet 2022, Melaka Ujian Awal’ on Umno Online Facebook last night.

The Pontian MP said the criterion for candidates announced by party president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi when launching the BN machinery recently should apply.

“WALI (winnable, acceptable and likeableI with the combination of senior and young leaders of both sexes is able to from a formidable team in Melaka.

“Our poster boy is of course Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali who will succeed as the Chief Minister as it was agreed by the Supreme Council… even the Melaka people are aware of it,” he said.

The Election Commission has set Nov 8 for the nomination day and Nov 20 for polling.