Sabah Umno members told to gear up for GE

The BN victory in Sarawak should not be taken for granted by Umno members and efforts should be doubled to get the people's support.

PAPAR: Senior Umno leader Mukhriz Mahathir has cautioned fellow Barisan Nasional leaders that the ruling coalition faces a tough fight in the coming 13th general election, including in its “fixed deposit” states of Sabah and Sarawak.

The international trade and industry deputy minister said the so-called ‘fixed deposit’ states of Sabah and Sarawak will not be able to guarantee BN will wrest back the seats won by the opposition.

Mukhriz, who is Kedah Umno liaison deputy chairman, said BN must claw back the seats it lost to the opposition to ensure a steady future for the ruling coalition, failing which it would be tougher to retain the leadership.

“In Sabah, we need to work together to fight and strive for the 25 parliamentary seats and 60 state seats.

“It is not about striving to win two-thirds of the seats. If possible, we have to conquer all the seats.

“But do not think it is easy because as we all know that Sabah was (once) led by the opposition and we know how the situation was,” he said after officiating the 20th Papar Umno Youth meeting here on Sunday.

Mukhriz said the BN victory in the just concluded Sarawak state election should not be taken for granted by Umno members and efforts should be doubled to get the people’s support.

He also reminded Umno Youth wing members in the state not to be too comfortable with their positions.

Mukhriz, meanwhile, brushed off Papar Umno Youth chief Armizan Mohd Ali’s suggestion that he should strategise for the post of Umno Youth chief in the next party polls

“(It is) not the time yet for me to compete for the position. Now, our priority is to prepare for the coming general election that could be very tough for us.

“The most importance thing is to stress on the unity at the state as pre-condition for us to get the people’s support,” he said.

Mukhriz was narrowly defeated by Khairy Jamaluddin for the top Youth post in the last party polls. However Mukhriz was given a place in the government as a deputy minister while Khairy was overlooked.