Umno to go to schools nationwide to get students' support

Umno is now eyeing the support of students via approaches taken by its Youth and Puteri wings at schools, said the party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today.

He said he wanted the students to stand by Umno and become part of the election machinery in the next general election.

"It is time now and we will go to the schools. We will have a series of actions to get close especially to the student leaders of schools nationwide.

"I hope that they can enter the school campuses and approach (the students) in a prudent manner," Zahid told hundreds of Umno Youth members and university students at the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur on the eve of the Umno Youth general assembly.

"We hope both the Youth and Puteri wings work together to attract them (the students) to not only to stand by us but to become the (election) machinery or staunch supporters of BN candidates in GE15," he said.

Political parties from both sides of the divide are competing to attract the support of youths after Parliament passed a constitutional bill to lower the voting age to 18 from the current 21 years.

Umno plans to set up its "Kelab Mahasiswa Umno" on campuses for university students that support the Malay-based party.

The party also said it would strengthen its youth movement and focus on youths at its annual general assembly being held from today till Saturday.

Before this, Umno had set up its branches at universities following amendments to the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 to allow for political activities on campus.

In his speech, Zahid also announced his plan to field more youth activists and party loyalists as candidates in GE15.

When asked later, he said, he especially wanted to field those who have been loyal to the party as candidates.

"Especially those who are loyal. If not loyal, (no matter how) good (you are, you) will not become a candidate," he said.  - Mkini