Umno doesn't depend on drama to survive, says veep

Umno vice-president Hishammuddin Hussein believes the party does not merely depend on drama to survive.

“The survival of the party doesn’t depend on drama,” Hishammuddin said at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

He was asked to comment on whether the coming Umno annual general assembly would see the party survive, based on the dramas now plaguing the party that are occurring daily.

Hishammuddin, who is the defence minister, stressed that the assembly would focus on the bigger issues, instead of what an individual has to say.

He said this when asked about the possible presence of former prime minister and former party president Dr Mahathir Mohamad who said that he will attend the assembly, should he get invited.

Hishammuddin (photo) said regardless of whether any particular individual attends the assembly or otherwise, this will not affect the party.

“The party’s (fate) is not decided by certain individuals and personalities. It is decided by the majority of Umno members.

“History has shown that the majority of Umno members are not led on by emotions and current issues,” he said.

He added that history has also shown how the majority of Umno members would prioritise the party’s interests, even during the time when his grandfather, Umno founder Onn Jaafar, resigned as Umno president as well as during former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim’s sacking where his supporters had gone to the streets.

'Current crisis not unique'

“What we are facing now is not as bad as what we have experienced previously, but this does not mean we don’t have anything that worries us.

“But I don’t agree if you say that this (the current crisis) is something that is unique in Umno’s history," he said.

Meanwhile, he was also asked to comment on former Perak Umno leader Hamidah Osman who said that she will bring down Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak in light of her sacking from Umno.

“A lot of people has gone down in Umno, including my grandfather, the founder of Umno. (But) the grandson is still a vice-president of Umno.

“Unless you want to compare Hamidah with Onn, go ahead,” he said.

He also said that there would not be a split in Johor Umno between those who are loyal to Najib and former deputy prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin if they make the party their priority.

Umno is set to have its annual general assembly next week.

There is high possibility that the assembly will have some fireworks as issues such as the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) imbroglio as well as the sacking of Muhyiddin as deputy prime minister will be raised. -Mkini