Zahid hopes Umno polls will boost party's revival

 

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi expressed hope that the results of the party’s 189 divisional elections today will serve as a step towards the party’s revival.

The BN chairperson said, as the leadership that would be elected today not only involved the central level but also the state and division levels, it was necessary to move together and work as a team in facing the six states’ elections.

“Whether these individuals are known or unknown, Umno is very democratic where the method to become a candidate is to register after they qualify as a candidate.

“My hope is that the decision that will be made by 189 divisions, it will serve as a step for Umno’s revival 2.0,” he said when met at the Bagan Datuk Umno Division elections today.

Zahid (above), who is also deputy prime minister, stressed that democracy in Umno continues to flourish when several candidates offer themselves to contest despite the party being said to be experiencing a “dark” period.

UMNO elections are being held from Feb 1 to March 18, with the branch-level elections being held from Feb 1 to 26, followed by the elections for the Wanita, Youth, and Puteri wings at the national level on March 11.

The party divisional delegates’ meetings and committee elections, as well as contests for seats in the Umno Supreme Council, will be held simultaneously nationwide today.

Meanwhile, Zahid expressed hope that the elected MT members will be able to strengthen the party. He also stressed that Umno needs to embrace digitalisation to gain the support of voters including new ones.

“My hope is that we choose the best candidates among the best so that we don’t make the wrong choice this time. Even though I celebrate the difference of views and opinions, we should not differ in our views when the party makes decisions, especially big decisions.

“Now we are in the unity government and we support the concept of Malaysia Madani. We are part of the government,” Zahid said.

He said that the compatibility between Umno and the component parties of BN, together with the parties supporting the government, began to show positive development at the national, parliamentary, and state levels, as well as at the district polling centre and locality levels.

Touching on his daughter Nurulhidayah, who failed to win the Bagan Datuk Umno Wanita chief post in the elections, Zahid said the results proved that there was no interference at all levels.

- Bernama