KUALA LUMPUR – Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is open to suggestions to revamp the Barisan Nasional linchpin, amid a “Reset Umno” poster calling for his removal as party president.
Speaking to reporters at the 2022 Umno general assembly here today, Zahid appeared to take no offence to the poster, instead advocating for significant changes to the party.
“It would be better for Umno to enact drastic changes soon as one united party.
“This reset can be implemented together. What’s important is that Umno does not give in to differences that will create factions in the party,” he said.
The poster, which began making the rounds on social media yesterday as Umno’s annual convention kicked off, promotes Federal Territories party chief Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani as president, with former Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin as his deputy.
It is rumoured that Khairy has plans of wresting the Umno deputy presidency from Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, with the former lambasting calls for the party’s top two posts to remain uncontested.
Umno must hold its internal elections before May 19, which is six months after the previous general election (GE15).
Besides that, Zahid said that his policy speech on the agenda for the party’s general assembly tomorrow will feature talks on the party’s future, following a dismal performance in GE15.
“For upcoming state and national polls, our social media election campaigns must engage with grassroot party supporters and fence-sitter voters,” he said.
GE15 saw BN’s worst electoral performance since its formation, with the coalition only securing a dismal 30 federal seats to PN’s 74 and PH’s 82. – The Vibes, January 12, 2023
