KUALA LUMPUR – Umno’s top leadership needs to come to a consensus on deciding to hold the 15th general election (GE15) soon, said several delegates today in the assemblies for the Wanita, Youth, and Puteri wings here today.
Some delegates said the victories in Johor and Melaka were not a good gauge as the party’s entire machinery was harnessed in the states.
Others still called for all to leave it to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and the Umno top leadership to discuss before seeking the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Bagan Serai Wanita Umno chief Zarina Abdol Majid said that in a general election, it would not be possible for party machinery from other states to go helping around except in their own areas or state.
“Let us not repeat the old attitude. The defeat in GE14 should be a lesson. The factional fighting among each other is like training our guns at our own fort.
“There is no need to reveal our strategy on the date of GE as our enemies would also take the opportunity to put up theirs,” she said.
Federal Territories Youth chief Mohamed Nizhan Abdullah Hamidi said space should be given to the top five – president, deputy president, and three vice-presidents – to discuss Umno’s interests, and any decision would be supported by the grassroots.
“We need to organise our respective machinery. Would we be able to win without the help of friends while being short in funds in the Johor election?.
“Organise the machinery with a new narrative so that we are really ready for GE15,” he said.
Meanwhile, Kuala Kedah Wanita chief Datin Noor Hasita Mat Isa said Umno should benefit from the traditional combination of the prime minister and party president posts.
“The combination needs to be interpreted well so that Umno is not split in two. We should use this advantage to strengthen the party.
“Insya-Allah, our party will become stronger under the leadership of the president and the prime minister can focus on the administration of the country,” she said.
Meanwhile, Melaka Wanita delegate Datuk Haryati Hamdzah expressed her regrets with slander against the top party leadership, especially with its president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and vice-president Ismail Sabri.
“I sympathise with the president for being slandered. Similarly, I also sympathise with the prime minister who endured the difficulty of balancing power through a confidence-and-supply agreement with the opposition while being heckled by party members.
“The fact is, it is not easy to administer in a Covid-19 pandemic crisis. Only the calm can triumph,” she said. – Bernama, March 17, 2022
