KUALA LUMPUR – Umno and Barisan Nasional’s (BN) performance, as well as the direction of Muafakat Nasional (MN) with PAS, are expected to be among the hot topics of delegates at the Umno general assembly starting tomorrow.
The assembly, to be fully conducted face-to-face, will be the largest Malay political party’s most important platform to openly deliberate and conceive strategies for the 15th general election (GE15).
The annual gathering at World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur, which will be attended by 5,571 delegates, is expected to draw the attention of many, including political observers waiting for Umno to chart its direction in facing current political challenges and remaining relevant.
Based on Umno and BN’s excellent performance in the Melaka and Johor elections, the issue of dissolving Parliament to pave the way for GE15 to be held, apart from the agenda of empowering youth as candidates, will be popularly debated.
Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who is also the prime minister, was reported on Sunday as saying the assembly would see the future direction of the party be one of the main things discussed.
Ismail Sabri said the issue of MN may also be debated. The MN charter was signed by Umno and PAS on September 14, 2019.
The general assembly, to be held over four days, will commence with the joint opening of the Wanita, Youth, and Puteri wings’ general assemblies by party deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan at Dewan Merdeka tomorrow.
It will be followed by the assembly of the three wings the next day.
The general assembly proper will begin with the policy speech of party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on Friday, continuing on Saturday before party leaders wind up.
On December 25, the Umno general assembly, which was scheduled to be held from January 13 to 15, was postponed due to floods in several states.
The assembly is also expected to be attended by 500 media practitioners, including 15 international news agencies for coverage. – Bernama, March 15, 2022
