We accept anyone to contest Silam – Yusof
LAHAD DATU: Silam Umno will accept any candidate being fielded in this area in the 14th General Election, including a candidate from Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties.
Silam Umno head Datuk Mohd Yusof Apdal disclosed this yesterday, saying that Silam Umno would also work hard to help the candidate to ensure the BN’s victory.
However, Yusof said Umno should be given the opportunity to contest as anyone from Umno was also capable of delivering the seat to BN.
“I believe whoever is fielded from Umno would be able to win the seat for BN.
“As Silam Umno division head, I am open and it is up to the leadership to choose the candidate and we accept it with an open heart,” Yusof said in response to MCA’s statement that the party was eyeing Silam seat in the upcoming GE14.
On another issue, Yusof, who is also Lahad Datu assemblyman, said Silam Umno had held a meeting and agreed to submit objection to the leadership on the action of a people’s representative here to set up his own Pusat Daerah Mengundi or District Election Centre.
Yusof said the people’s representative’s action was seen as inappropriate and would only create confusion, thus leading to problems and disunity among party members,
“Pusat Daerah Mengundi (PDM) was established as machinery to help any candidate selected by the leadership in the next general election.
“So far there are 31 formal PDMs for Umno and a centre was set up in each section aimed at organizing the work for party,” he explained.
Earlier in his speech, Yusof not only expressed his loyalty to Umno and its leadership, he also urged all members of Umno to also give undivided support to the party and leadership.
He said that support was the root that could further strengthen the leadership so that they could continue the fight of the party.
Yusof in his speech also praised the loyalty showed by Wanita Umno, whose members were always strong in their support for the party.
He also hoped that Wanita Umno members would continue their hard work to help the party in the fight for religion, race and nation.