We want someone from Perak to helm Umno, says Zambry
IPOH: Perak Umno has hinted at throwing its support behind Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in his bid to be the party president on Saturday.
Its chairman, Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir, while saying that the acting Umno president had instructed members not to mention their stance, but to choose wisely and independently, had added that it was only natural that the state’s Umno leadership wanted someone from Perak to helm the party.
“We do not want to make any kind of announcement that we want this person or that person. Of course, we have our own choice and preference, and naturally, this person would be from Perak,” Zambry said during a press conference after a meeting between Zahid and Perak Umno committee members at the Umno building here yesterday.
On the meeting, he said Zahid had stressed that this year’s party election was open to all Umno members to make their own choice.
“At the state level, we will evaluate from various aspects, such as how far a leader can perform, administer and manage the party... we won’t be looking at rhetoric.
“What is important is that they (the chosen leaders) can bring Umno members together and fix the party’s weaknesses and past mistakes, as well as rebuild Umno to become a favoured party in the future.”
He said Zahid reminded Umno division leaders to learn from BN’s defeat in the 14th General Election (GE14) and to re-evaluate weaknesses in the party and themselves.
“(He) reminded us not to live in our own world, in self-denial and always blaming others for the defeat, but look at things comprehensively.”
Commenting on the results of the party’s elections for the three wings, he said it showed that the grassroots members had been harbouring hopes to see a renewal process from within.
“The grassroots have spoken and what they want from Umno is the strength to face the struggles that we have now. That is very important, for the new generation to take up the leadership, to understand the current situation and plan for the future.”
In the elections over the weekend, Parit Sulong member of parliament Datuk Noraini Ahmad was voted in as Wanita chief, exminister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki as Youth chief and Datuk Zahida Zarik Khan as Puteri chief.