Axe 'traitors' immediately, wings urge Umno leadership

 

The time has come for Umno to come down harder on betrayal from within the party, especially after the party's disastrous showing in the 15th general election.

The call was made by the leaders of the party's three wings, namely Youth, Wanita and Puteri, in their respective policy speeches today.

According to Umno Youth leader Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki (above), "traitors" should be kicked out so that they do not cause continuous damage to the party.

"'Backstabbing' episodes in Umno began after the establishment of Perikatan Nasional (PN), where some party leaders are said to be more loyal to PN chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin, instead of their own party president.

"Umno Youth has never budged from its stand of defending the party's leadership without fear or favour. Therefore, we urge the 'enemies in the fold' who put their own interests over the party, to be removed before they can become cancer that can destroy the party," he said.

According to him, Umno Youth leaders are not "hypocrites" who celebrate the party leadership when it wins, but criticise when the party fails.

"It is hard to imagine how certain leaders, who have lived luxurious lives from the sweat and tears of Umno members, have now resorted to demonising the party and its leadership, just because they were not chosen as candidates (in the election)," he added.

Asyraf also lambasted individuals who preach that they can become "heroes" by saving Umno from its current predicament.

"As if he is the only noble, perfect person. Is Umno that desperate that one person has to be made a minister many times over, and is the leadership that lame to let such leaders contest despite repeated betrayals?"

'Need immediate renewal'

Wanita Umno chief Noraini Ahmad echoed Asyraf's call, saying the party needs to undergo an immediate renewal.

Wanita Umno chief Noraini Ahmad

"Yesterday, president (Ahmad Zahid Hamidi) and deputy president (Mohamad Hasan) mentioned that our (Umno's) loss was due to internal and external factors.

"Externally, we lost due to horrible perception games driven by unexpected funding resources, as viralled on social media.

"Internally, we lost due to some of us who can't stop shooting ourselves in the foot," she said, further citing that this is why the party needs a complete renewal "without compromise"

Remember party discipline

Meanwhile, Puteri Umno chief Zahida Zarik Khan reminded all the delegates and the leadership that the party still has its discipline intact, and said leaders who think otherwise should be dealt with accordingly.

"Immediate action should be taken against those who think they are bigger than the party and tries to destroy it. There is no place for insolence in the party."

Likening such leaders to cancer, Zahida said that if not cut out, the illness will spread out and destroy the whole "body" known as Umno.

Puteri Umno chief Zahida Zarik Khan

"We must be willing to bear the pain of being operated on today if we want to avoid from suffering from the fifth stage (cancer) if the illness is allowed to spread."

Although no names were mentioned, the attacks were believed to refer to the 10 Umno MPs who inked a statutory declaration supporting Muhyiddin as prime minister, following the political stalemate after GE15.

Zahid reportedly revealed a planned meeting between BN MPs and PN chairperson Muhyiddin at the height of the deadlock, which was a plot to topple him as BN chairperson.

Dubbed the “St Regis Move”, it was claimed that the main agenda of the Nov 23 meeting was to secure the support of BN MPs for Muhyiddin to be prime minister.

This Umno general assembly from Jan 11 to 15 is the first since Zahid agreed to work together with Anwar Ibrahim and Pakatan Harapan to form the new government after the GE15. - Mkini