Umno not for one member, remember Najib's call for reform, asks Shafie

Umno vice-president Shafie Apdal said the party did not belong to a single member and reminded of when party president Najib Abdul Razak called for the party to reform.

He made the reminder in response to Najib's surprise announcement to bar Umno deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin from speaking at the opening of the party's wings' annual general assembly next month.

"Not long ago, the party president did voice out and called for Umno to reform; every member at the grassroots had to change for the sake of change to ensure that Umno is always relevant with the times, is able to attract youths, and the like.

"But unfortunately, the process of renewal is incomplete and (but) it cannot only happen at the lower levels.

"Instead, it needs the commitment and support at every level, particularly from the higher-ups who have the capability to determine this sacred party's direction," he said in a statement late last night.

Shafie also criticised the move to bar Muhyiddin from speaking at the wings' openings and hoped that the party leader will still be allowed to speak during the winding up of the main body.

Najib had said the decision was made on request of the respective wings' chiefs who will launch their meetings themselves.

In his statement, Shafie said he recalled how he saw Umno leaders freely accepting criticisms when he followed his father to the Umno annual general assembly in the 1970s.

"Even though there were some strong criticism, every Umno member present including the top leadership accepted the speeches and criticism with an open heart.

"All the criticisms that were made is for the improvement and lays the foundation to the strength of the largest party in the country," he said.

He added that Umno belonged to all its members and not the few.

"Umno is approaching 70 years old and it should be more open and not inclusive only to certain individuals' interests.

"Umno does not belong to one member; it belongs to three million members who have for long defended this sacred party together," he said.

The move to bar Muhyiddin from officiating the wings' opening is seen as an attempt to silence him.

Muhyiddin, together with Shafie, were dismissed from the government in July for their critical stance against Najib's handling of 1MDB. -Mkini