Amanah Women, Youth wings raring to voice views at convention

The Women's wing of Amanah, Angkatan Wanita Amanah Nasional (Awan) should not be too humble or fearful in voicing views on the party's struggle, in particular during the party's third national convention in the middle of this month.

Its chairperson Siti Mariah Mahmud said members of the party wing should play an effective role by expressing their opinions to be discussed together for the benefit and survival of the party.

"Do not feel embarrassed to voice your views ... do not hold back. We want the party to survive with the collective voice of the Youth, Awan and Young Women's wings," she told Bernama.

Siti Mariah said plans and strategies needed to be put together to strengthen the party's standing since it was established in September 2015.

"Indeed, I do not want Amanah members to feel comfortable with what's happening right now. Our efforts have been fruitful, so we have to serve the community," she said and added that the women's wing will be represented by 20 delegates at the convention.

The 2018 National Amanah Convention will take place in Ipoh, Perak, from Dec 14 to 16 and is expected to be attended by 1,000 delegates from 156 registered constituencies.

This is the first convention to be held after the party became a component party of Pakatan Harapan, which forms the government.

Meanwhile, Amanah Youth chief Mohd Sany Hamzan said the Youth wing would be represented by 20 delegates chosen at its recent Youth convention and they would taking part in the debate to express boldness in reprimanding the party's leadership.

"We want to improve the moral aspect, discipline, integrity and achievement. Use the convention platform to raise issues. This is what we want from our Youth leaders," Mohd Sany said.

Meanwhile, Amanah communications director Khalid Abdul Samad (photo) believes party members can be rational in considering the performance of ministers and deputy ministers from the party.

Khalid, who is also federal territories minister, said as a member party which has been given the mandate, the convention is the best opportunity to clarify their respective achievements in the past six months.

"The delegates are open in giving their views and criticisms on the performance of those appointed, and at the same time, they (the appointed ministers/deputies) must take the opportunity to explain to them.

"Sometimes a party member can have high expectations... he thinks that when we become the government can do certain things... so we have to explain as part of educating the public, including members of Amanah," he said.

Amanah has nine top leaders holding minister and deputy minister posts in the Harapan cabinet led by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Besides Khalid, the others holding minister posts are party president Mohamad Sabu, who is defence minister, deputy president Salahuddin Ayub (agriculture and agro-based industry minister), vice-president Mujahid Yusof (minister in the Prime Minister's Department) and Dzulkefly Ahmad (health minister).

Meanwhile, the party’s deputy minister posts are held by Amanah secretary-general Mohd Anuar Mohd Tahir (Works Ministry), election director Mohd Hatta Ramli (Entrepreneur Development Ministry), Mahfuz Omar (Human Resource Ministry) and Mohamed Hanipa Maidin (Prime Minister's Department).

Anuar also said that besides focusing on strengthening the party, the convention would review the performance of each party leader in the cabinet.

- Bernama