Shafie Apdal warns against ‘touch and go’ politics

Away from elections, he noted that the different states have different fatwas on the same issue and implementation is weak.

KUALA LUMPUR: The lone Umno Sabah vice-president Shafie Apdal, a Suluk from the eastern seaboard, warned in his closing speech at the Umno General Assembly on Saturday that the party was falling behind the Opposition in the registration of new members and voters.

He attributed this to the “one off” and “touch and go” politics practised by the party.

“We can’t just register numbers and voters and leave them alone after that. There must be follow up,” he said in referring to Umno’s 3.47 million members.”

Citing figures from the period June 2013 to September 2014, he said that only 5,939 voters were registered by Umno throughout the country.

Other figures: MCA 256; MIC 266; and Gerakan 373 members.

In contrast, he said, DAP registered 9,309 voters, PKR 2103, and PAS 1775.

He called for the adoption of work ethics based on the retain and regain concepts i.e. retain what the party now has and regain what it lost.

It’s easier said than done, he conceded.

“It’s a game of numbers and we no longer have time on our side,” he said.

Away from elections, he noted that the different states have different fatwas on the same issue and implementation is weak.

The Syariah Court is also seen as in conflict with the civil court, he stressed.

Elsewhere, he touched on the issue of eradicating poverty, the funding of entrepreneurs, rural housing, and the gap between the urban and rural areas.

He suggested that agencies involved in these areas co-ordinate and step up their efforts. “It cannot be business as usual,” he said in reminding that failure is not an option.

He touched on upholding the Federal Constitution, Islam, Article 153 and the Malay language.