KUALA LUMPUR – Umno leaders have been handed a stern reminder of the potential challenges they will face in the coming general election (GE), when every candidate will be left to fight on their own.
Despite handsome victories in recent state elections, Umno Veteran chairman Datuk Othman Desa warned that nothing but hard work will ensure victory in the national polls.
“The manifestos that we recently offered were effective and the rakyat quite like them. As such, we must continue working hard and understand their plight.
“State elections are different (from GE). During GE, other divisions won’t be there to help you. Your godfathers won’t come down, the president won’t come down, the prime minister won’t come down.
“All of you will be taking care of your own constituencies,” he said when debating the presidential speech at the Umno general assembly here today.
Othman, who is former political secretary to ex-prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, asked delegates if they are able to attract the support of youth and non-Malay voters without personality visits.
In this regard, he said party machineries should redouble their preparations and avoid any potential infighting among their own members.
In the past, state and by-elections will typically see party leaders and machineries from across the country converging to help in campaigning and throw their support behind candidates.
This is unlike GEs, when leaders and members will be occupied in their own constituencies to ensure their own victories.
Umno’s top leadership is currently pushing for a general election to be held this year – before the party heads for its own internal polls, which is due before December 29.
Party leaders who are in the cabinet, however, are understood to be in favour of holding off any national polls until the Covid-19 pandemic in the country is under control. – The Vibes, March 19, 2022
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