Other factors to consider before fielding new faces – reps
KUALA LUMPUR: Umno Sabah Youth’s call for new faces to be fielded in the 14th general election has received support from the party’s state divisional leaders but they are of the opinion that there are other factors to be given consideration before such action is taken.
Umno Kinabatangan chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin said there was a need to field a combination of new and old faces in the 14th general election.
“Of course a party or an organization needs future leaders and Umno does that all the time including giving bigger room for successors of the current leaders to be fielded as candidates in elections or appointed senators and chairmen among others,” Bung, who was met at the Umno general assembly here yesterday, said this when asked to comment about the call made by Umno Sabah Batu Sapi Youth chief Khairul Firdaus Akhbar Khan during his debate on Wednesday.
“It is important that focus is placed on this matter, otherwise the party will be short of leaders and we can see the way Umno handles its organization by ensuring that its young leaders participate in the decision making in TN50 that will determine the future of the country,” the Kinabatangan member of parliament said.
The outspoken member of parliament also said there were many young leaders in Umno Kinabatangan.
“But we cannot hand over total leadership of the country to the young leaders as they must first show that they can perform well. They must also be guided by the senior leaders until they can inherit the party’s leadership well,” Bung said.
He added that there was also a need to ensure that there must be a combination of senior and young leaders to ensure the continuity of leadership in Umno or the government.
Meanwhile, Umno Beluran chief Datuk James Ratib said the party leadership must consider the credibility of the elected representatives first before making any decision.
“If the wakil rakyat is still needed by the constituents why should there be any changes made? Changes should only be made if the wakil rakyat is problematic and no longer winnable,” the Beluran member of parliament stressed.
James stressed that what was important now was to ensure that BN win the 14th general election.
“I agree with Umno Sabah Youth’s proposal but we also need to ensure that the candidate is not only qualified but winnable,” he said.
Umno Kudat chief Datuk Bolkiah Ismail also supported the suggestion because the party needed young leaders who can give constructive ideas towards the administration of the country.
“I believe the proposal will bring big changes in the party’s rejuvenation process for future leaders, especially when facing the TN50 challenges,” he said.
Young leaders have good ideas and if their potential is not nurtured, they will disappear just like that, he said, adding that the request for 30 per cent new faces by Umno Sabah Youth will add ‘colour’ to the transition process.
Firdaus when debating party president Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s opening speech, said for the sake of Umno’s continuation, leaders must field more new faces in the 14th general election.
“We need more young blood and we need more new faces in order for us to be relevant. The problem with us is we have not been fielding a lot of young faces while it focuses on young voters and its engagement with young voters is very aggressive.
“When Umno came to Sabah, most of our leaders were young and they were the ones who started the struggle and fought for Umno and they were the ones who made sure PBS lost.
“But now, it has been the opposite ... we are the ones with the shortcomings in terms of giving opportunities to young leaders with potential,” he said.
He pointed out that Sabah is rich with diversity of people and natural resources adding; “Our culture is very diversified and if we don’t leverage on this, we will be stuck on the same mode as it is now.
“But we really appreciate the contribution of our current leaders and it is up to leaders on how to make sure new young leaders and new faces can be fielded for the upcoming 14th general election.
“We just want a significant number of young and new faces to be fielded -- not only young leaders, it can be 30, 40 or 50 years old but we need at least 60 to 70 per cent new faces in Sabah, both state and parliament seats,” Fairuz said.
He said the majority of young people in Sabah wanted to see change in the BN candidates for the election and not a change in government.