No room for apple polisher in Umno — Hisham

LABUAN: The apple polisher syndrome is normal in any organisation, including Umno, but it will never be allowed to be rampant in the party, says Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein.

He said the syndrome was mostly visible on those who were out to achieve their own personal agenda.

“These apple polishers usually tried too hard to please the party leaders to gain a personal advantage, I’m sure the leaders will notice and will not allow it, let alone to jeopardise the strength of the party,” Hishammuddin told reporters after opening the Labuan Umno Division Delegates Conference here yesterday.

Hishammuddin said the party president, who is also Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, and he himself, had went through so many challenges in the party and could easily tell if someone had a hidden agenda.

“These kind of people are not really supporting Umno, they are just out to gain something for themselves or to weaken the party,” he explained.

He also stressed that any effort to shake the relationship between Najib, Ahmad Zahid and himself, would not work.

Meanwhile, Hishammuddin said Sabah and Labuan would continue to be Barisan Nasional’s (BN) stronghold in the upcoming 14th general election (GE14).

He said this was because Umno’s struggle was not based on self-interest, but rather the interests of the Malays and all the other races in the country.

“With the solidarity among the people and party members, we are confident that BN will win with an even bigger majority,” he said, adding the solidarity of Umno members in Labuan could set a good example to other states across the country.