Leaders must not overstay, otherwise, "we'll have more and more stupid people in the party and it will be rejected," said former prime minister Tun Dr mahathir Mohamad.
KUALA LUMPUR: Former Umno president Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has urged delegates to choose their leaders wisely, based on the candidates’ background and potential to the party.
In remarks made ahead of the Umno elections next month, the former prime minister said that party delegates had a huge responsibility in ensuring that they voted for candidates who had the leadership calibre needed by Umno.
“Don’t choose because he (the candidate) is ‘my man’, (and) you don’t care what he does. That sort of thing is bad. People should choose wisely based on their knowledge about the character, personality and potential of the person himself,” he said.
Dr Mahathir was speaking to reporters after giving a talk on ‘Youth Readiness Towards Vision 2020′ at the International Youth Centre in Cheras here yesterday.
He noted that the retention of both Umno president Najib Tun Razak and deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin in their posts uncontested proved that the party was solid and united.
“If there’s no contest, there’ll be less possibility of a split in the party, because if there is a contest (which was what) happened during my time, the loser goes to the court (of law) and forms a new party,” he said.
Asked about his son, Mukhriz’s move to contest an Umno vice-president seat, Dr Mahathir said: “It’s up to him (Mukhriz) and for the people to appraise…I don’t give public advice”.
In his talk, Dr Mahathir reminded party leaders not to overstay in power and “go when it’s time for them to go” and make way for younger and capable leaders to avoid being rejected by the people.
“Leaders must not overstay, that was something my mother told me. Stay for a reasonable length of time. Young people who are more intelligent will join the party and the party leadership will improve over time.
“Otherwise, we’ll have more and more stupid people in the party and it will be rejected,” he said.
Dr Mahathir said Malaysians, especially the youth, needed to be inculcated with noble values as the country strived towards a developed-nation status.
“I want to stress, over and over again, the need for good moral characters and good values among our people so that when we achieve Vision 2020, we would have built a great country,” he said.
He was confident that Vision 2020 would become a reality if the people were disciplined and fully aware of their responsibilities towards the nation.
-Bernama
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