Umno Youth wants young leaders to form 30% of BN candidates

TENOM: Umno Youth is standing firm on its call for 30 per cent of Barisan Nasional candidates in the 14th general election (14GE) to be selected from among young leaders in the coalition.

Its information chief Jamawi Jaafar said that at the Umno General Assembly last year, the movement had requested for the Barisan Nasional (BN) leadership to field young leaders for the parliamentary and state seats.

Speaking to reporters at the Tenom Umno division Hari Raya Open House here on Sunday, Jamawi said the proposal is to counter the offer by opposition parties to attract young people.

“If we fail to offset the packages offered by the opposition to the younger generation, we are worried that the youths will not be in favor of us (BN) in the coming election,” he said.

At the Sabah level, he said Umno Youth divisonal chiefs have let their head, Hafiz Yamani Musa to discuss and make suggestions to the Umno Youth leadership to recommend or submit qualified candidates to the BN leadership.

“In the context of Sabah Umno Youth, we are also reminded by Sabah Umno Liaison Chairman Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Haji Aman to prepare the youth to be candidates,” he said.

Rural Development Minister and Melalap assemblyman Datuk Seri Panglima Radin Malleh was among the leaders at the open house.

Radin (left) presenting Raya money to a disabled child accompanied by her mother. Also seen is Jamawi (third right).