‘UMNO ALL OUT TO RETAIN AND REGAIN’
Party’s election machinery is ready for GE14, says Zahid
UMNO’S acting No. 2 wants the party’s election machinery to focus on a promising game plan that can help Barisan Nasional emerge victorious from the 14th General Election.
The catchphrase that is to be the mantra for Umno soldiers is “Retain and Regain”.
Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, in his winding-up speech at the end of the party’s annual assembly yesterday, spelt out clearly the roles that all, including the party’s top echelon, had taken on and what they would be doing on the ground, as the election loomed.
Zahid, who is carrying out the deputy president’s duties, said he had been entrusted by party president Datuk Seri Najib Razak to mobilise the party’s election machinery.
He told the delegates that the machinery from the polling centres, state seats, right up to parliament constituencies were ready for GE14.
“The ‘Supervision Programme’ led by Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor is working well to achieve the targeted seats that we want to retain and regain.
“We do not want to lose the seats we have in hand and end up not getting the seats that we are after.”
Zahid said any issues or disputes regarding seat allocation would be discussed at the Barisan Nasional Supreme Council, based on the spirit of compromise and cooperation.
The council, he said, would tackle issues concerning candidates.
He told the assembly that Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein would set up a Key Performance Index based on the party’s Election Operation Manual and that the party machinery would ensure that every eligible voter cast their vote on polling day.
“In order to avoid disruption to the election machinery’s operations or possible sabotage, a back-up machinery will be set up for the polling centres.
“We will also set up the Conflict Resolution Committee, the brainchild of the party president, to troubleshoot problems at the state and parliamentary levels.”
Zahid reminded the party’s election machinery at polling centres nationwide to embrace the “Go Out To Vote” (GOTV) campaign, which also applied to all BN components.
He told the assembly that the party’s internal training programme, KERIS 2314 series 1.0 and 2.0, involving more than 50,000 Umno leaders and members, had been completed.
Zahid reminded Umno members to accept the party leadership’s decision on general election candidates, stressing that internal sabotage should be avoided at all cost, as the party would be facing the mother of all general elections.
He made it clear that Umno should not be complacent and assume that the party stood a good chance of winning because the opposition is divided.
“Umno must not be complacent if the fight goes beyond twocornered fight because in certain constituencies, it may not work in BN’s favour.
“We must strengthen the party from within, instead of depending on external factors as the opposition will use whatever means to win. They are surviving on issues while BN is ‘agenda centric’,” Zahid said in his fiery speech.
He also warned Umno members of the opposition’s lastminute attacks, which could affect BN.
“Our election machinery must be ready to counter the opposition’s lies and slander by making good use of social media.
“Remember, we must refrain from attacking each other and we must work as a team with a winning mentality.”
Zahid led Umno delegates in taking a pledge of loyalty to the party. They also swore against sabotaging the party.
“We will abide by the decision of the president and the party leadership on the choice of candidates for the next general election.
“We will work hard in a united team to secure a two-thirds majority in the next general election.
“We will make sure that BN retains power and we will never surrender Putrajaya to the opposition.”