Johari: Be loyal, patient when championing party’s struggles
KOTA KINABALU: Umno members here were reminded to be loyal and patient when championing the party’s struggles.
Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, who is second finance minister, said while the party had survived all these years because of its ability to produce leaders suited to their times, these two characteristics were vital to ensure Umno remained strong.
“Our predecessors possessed these two elements as they fought for the country’s independence knowing that their sacrifice was not for themselves, but for the future generations,” he said when officiating the Kota Kinabalu Umno division delegates’ meeting here yesterday.
He said past leaders, like Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Hussein Onn and Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, were the right leaders during their respective eras.
“So, leadership transition is normal. Leaders may change, but the party remains if we continue to be loyal to Umno’s strug- gles.”
He said one of the challenges now was Tun Dr Mahathir Mo- hamad, who had switched sides to Pakatan Harapan. On patience, the Titiwangsa member of parliament said he was selected as a candidate in the 2013 General Election after waiting for three general elections, during which he remained loyal to the party.
“Despite not being named, I never stopped championing the party’s struggles and even became an election machinery director to support the candidates.”
He said Barisan Nasional was the best option as it continued power sharing among component parties even though some of them did not perform well in the last election.
“Umno is considered a big brother and we need to help the younger siblings (component parties). BN is the only coalition that takes into consideration its component parties’ interests.”
Johari said political stability had enabled Malaysia to surpass the Philippines, which was just behind Japan 60 years ago, in terms of development.
“So, no matter what the opposition says, Umno remains solid and Malaysia has progressed due to the stability we provide.”
He said the party needed Sabah Umno’s support to continue being strong and assured that BN would never turn its back on Sabahans.
He noted how Sabah’s economy grew from 2.1 per cent in 2011 to 6.1 per cent in 2015.
Johari said the state was always given more projects in terms of road links, electricity and housing.
He said the Federal Government would boost power supply and implement other measures in the state to woo investors and tourists.
This, he added, would include the possibility of airport expansion and allowing more hotels to be built.