Reach out to former National Service trainees – Hisham

SEREMBAN: Umno machinery needs to reach out to the National Service Training Programme (PLKN) alumni who have probably registered as voters and will cast their votes in the upcoming 14th general election.

Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said based on the Ministry of Defence’s data, there were approximately 600,000 PLKN alumni, but only 400,000 could be tracked down.

“We have implemented the PLKN for about 10 years… and the alumni have probably reached the eligible age to vote.

“That is why it is important for us to track them down and remind them that this is not empty politics,” he told reporters after opening the Rembau Umno Division Delegates Conference in Paroi here yesterday.

Also present was Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, who is also Rembau Umno chief and State Umno chairman.

Meanwhile, Hishammuddin also called on Umno members to display positive waves that could convince the people, who are uninterested, to learn about the party and eventually become a supporter.

He said the waves should not be limited to politics, but should also involve the economy and solidarity of the multi-racial and multi-religious society in the country.

“These small but positive waves will help create a tsunami that will wash away all our opponents in the state and in Johor at the upcoming general election.

“We can create a strong tsunami capable of countering the attacks launched by those who are out to get our seats,” he said.

Meanwhile when speaking at the opening of the Seremban Umno Division Delegates Conference yesterday, Hishammuddin urged every Umno member to inculcate a winning mentality to face the ‘war’ against the opposition in the 14th general election, which can be called at any time.

He said the winning mentality was important to ensure victory of Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) in facing any types of challenges and crisis.

“It is important for us to inculcate the winning mentality among our members, but it was also equally important for us to think and act in the best interests of the Malays, Islam and the nation.

”This sacred Malay party was not formed by one person working alone, but was formed by the Malays for the Malays and Islam,” he said.–