WANITA UMNO has called for the contributions of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to the party and country to be remembered, saying political changes should not erase the legacy of leaders who devoted much of their lives to national service.
Its chief, Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad, said the party must continue to honour its former leaders and preserve their contributions as part of the nation’s history.
“We appreciate previous leaders who have devoted a large part of their lives to UMNO and the country.
“And Wanita UMNO has also not forgotten the contributions of Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. We do not need to erase history to build the future,” she said in her policy speech at the 2026 Wanita UMNO General Assembly at the World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur today.
Noraini said Najib’s contributions to national development, economic transformation, infrastructure, aid for the people and UMNO’s struggle formed part of the country’s journey and could not be denied.
She said Wanita UMNO nevertheless respected the institutions and legal processes concerning matters currently before the courts.
“But respecting the legal process does not prevent us from having human values. Wanita UMNO knows how to remember and appreciate contributions,” she said.
Noraini also prayed for Najib and his family to be given strength and resilience in facing their challenges.
“To Datuk Seri Najib and his family, Wanita UMNO prays that you will be given strength and resilience in facing every trial.
“We continue to pray that the doors of justice and compassion will be opened, so that he can return to his family and continue the struggle together,” she said.
On UMNO’s future political cooperation, Noraini said Wanita UMNO had outlined five principles to guide the party in any partnerships it may pursue.
She said UMNO’s participation in the Government was aimed at safeguarding national stability, but this should not prevent the party from strengthening itself and determining its own direction.
Based on this position, she said, UMNO must establish clear principles to ensure it never compromises the foundations of its struggle or the party’s dignity when forming cooperation with other parties.
The party must also not sacrifice national stability, the voice of its grassroots or Malaysia’s plural society, she said.
“We can be friends with anyone, but we must know who we are.
“Cooperation cannot erode identity. Identity, meanwhile, cannot be an excuse to reject cooperation. We must be wise enough to safeguard both,” she said.
Noraini also reaffirmed Wanita UMNO’s loyalty to the party and its commitment to working alongside UMNO president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
“Leading a party when it is at its peak is a responsibility, but leading when the party is being tested, when confidence needs to be rebuilt and when difficult decisions have to be made. That requires a different kind of resilience.
“To the President, Wanita UMNO records its appreciation for continuing to lead the party through such a complex political landscape,” she said. - September 10, 2026
