Najib wants Umno members to gear up for general election

In his briefing, the Umno president told the delegates to work hard and be more aggressive in the coming general election.

KUALA LUMPUR: The level of preparedness in the face of the next general election was the main message driven home by Najib Tun Razak to delegates attending the 66th Umno general assembly.

Delivering the Umno presidential briefing here tonight, he reminded delegates to work hard and be more aggressive in winning the people’s support.

The Umno president emphasised on unity to ensure that the party would remain strong and return to power in the next general election.

Umno vice-president Shafie Apdal said the prime minister stressed the need of preparedness to ensure that the party would remain strong in the run-up to the next general election.

He said Najib advised the delegates to remain united and work as a team to ensure that the party was well prepared for any eventuality in an effort to strengthen the party.

“All members and delegates must understand and be aware of their role. There should be continuity in the struggle to elevate the dignity of the race and sovereignty of the nation because winning or losing depends on the spirit of unity in the party,” he said.

Another Umno vice-president, Hishammuddin Hussein, said the president also reminded the delegates that the party’s general assembly this year would be nothing like any of its previous assemblies.

“This assembly will determine the future of not only Umno members in the Dewan [Dewan Rakyat], but also the future of the Malaysian people and our religion, which has been the pillar and foundation of our struggles,” he said.

Hishammuddin said the president also reminded the delegates to attend the assembly with the common intention and determination to close ranks to face the upcoming general election.

Meanwhile, Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin said Najib also called on Umno members to be aggressive in reaching out and instilling faith in the people that Umno’s vision and objectives were much better than the opposition’s.

Puteri Umno chief Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin said Najib reminded party wings to remain united with the resolve of winning the next general election.

She said the unity and solidarity could be shown by fully backing anyone nominated as a candidate in the next general election.

“Umno members, whether young or not selected as candidates, must always be prepared to give their commitment and show their loyalty to enable the party to achieve a resounding victory in the next general election,” he said.

Umno supreme council member Ahmad Shabery Cheek said Najib reminded party members to continue to work hard and serve the people.

Asked whether Najib touched on sabotage from within Umno, Ahmad Shabery said it was not the main issue at hand, instead members were told to close ranks to ensure that the party would be ready to continue to remain in power.

Strong government

Another Umno supreme council member, Mustapa Mohamed, said Najib also reminded the delegates to be aggressive to face the opposition in the upcoming general election to ensure a big victory for Umno.

For that, Mustapa, who is also Kelantan Umno liaison committee chairman, said party members should identify and improve their weaknesses, besides being supportive of the president’s decisions.

“What’s important is for us to stay united, let’s not sabotage Umno, whatever decisions made by the president must be adhered to… the chosen candidates must be given full support until the end,” he said.

Saifuddin Abdullah, who is also Umno supreme council member, said during the briefing, the president acted like a captain and was straightforward in getting his message across to the delegates.

“Victory in the general election is indeed achievable but Umno must be rock solid,” he said, adding that Najib also called on the delegates to prove that the party had transformed in line with the people’s aspiration and current demands.

Meanwhile, supreme council member Rafidah Aziz said Umno members must be united as a team to win the general election and wrest back the states that had fallen to the opposition.

She said if Umno and the BN were to win two-thirds of the parliamentary seats and to form a strong government, Malaysia would also have a strong position at the international stage.

“Now we are in a global area, it’s not a question of wanting to become a candidate, which candidate do we want to choose, but it’s a question of ensuring victory for the party because of the people’s agenda that we want to implement,” she said.

Another supreme council member, Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin, said party members must emphasise the aspect of solidarity in efforts to win the general election.

“We must not forget the importance of the support of the other communities in order for the BN to win. Now, it appears that the Chinese community has begun to give their support to us,” he said.

Bernama