Former Umno president Najib Razak (photo, above) has called on party members to refrain from triggering "internal chaos" and accept the return of Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as party president.
In his speech launching Setiawangsa Umno division's meeting, the former prime minister said any members unhappy with Ahmad Zahid should wait for the Bagan Datuk's mandate to end in three years.
"We accept his return, and if we don't like it, we wait for another three years.
"But don't create chaos in the party. Don't have camps in the party," said the Pekan MP.
Najib further urged Umno members to unite for the people and respond to issues affecting the larger population rather than focus on its internal matters.
Repeating claims on the government's alleged failures to fulfil its election promises, Najib said Umno must speak up on issues including basic health care, cost of living, and job opportunities to regain the people's support.
"Let people regain confidence in us. If we are in chaos from fighting among us, the people will not have faith in us.
"We do want to reclaim power, right? Then do what is needed to gain power and don't prolong any fights," cautioned Najib who noted that Umno had a history of internal fightings to bring down each other.
'Umno-PAS unity a lethal weapon'
Looking beyond unity within Umno, Najib described the party's cooperation with PAS as being a "lethal weapon" to bring down the Harapan government.
"If the parliament is to be dissolved tomorrow, BN in cooperation with PAS can form a new government. This is a lethal weapon.
"This is the true Malay-Muslim unity that can determine our future," said Najib who reiterated the cooperation's success in several past by-elections.
Quizzed on whether there are now several camps in Umno, Najib later clarified that he was referring to comments on social media which could be blown out of proportion.
"We should stop all this... it (the unhappiness) might come from only one or two people but because it's on social media, it becomes a big story.
"Now I want us to unite for the people," he said.
Zahid went on leave in December last year amid pressure for him to step aside as party president.
His opponents within Umno had at the time criticised him for what they claimed was a lack of direction.
Zahid also presided over an exodus of lawmakers from the party, with threats of further defection if he did not step down.
He finally relented, and on Dec 18, announced that his deputy Mohamad Hasan would take over as the new acting president.
Just hours before Zahid announced his return on June 30, former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin – a close ally of Mohamad – had said Zahid should first seek the opinion of the Umno supreme council before announcing his return. - Mkini
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