The aim: Win big at GE14
Najib: Focus efforts on winning big in GE14
With all thorny issues ironed out and plans put in place at the last Umno general assembly before GE14, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak now wants nothing less for Barisan Nasional than a resounding victory at the polls. Backing the party president in the mission are Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and the leaders of the Wanita, Youth and Puteri wings.
WITH the issue of top party leadership settled, Umno members must now work hard to ensure a bigger win for Barisan Nasional in the coming general election, said party president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
The party, he told delegates in his winding-up speech on the final day of the Umno general assembly, is ready to enter the battlefield for the 14th general election now that it is fully united with all issues regarding its top leadership settled.
Following the adoption of the no-contest motion for the top two posts, Najib and vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who he specifically addressed as the de facto deputy president, will remain the president and deputy president once the party holds its election next year.
It has also been suggested that vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein should also be automatically retained.
“We are fully ready (for GE14) as we have settled all the main issues, which are the questions of the leadership for numbers one, two and three. Hishammuddin is number three. Settled. Done deal,” he said.
Urging delegates to get to work for GE14, Najib said they should start by resolving internal disputes at divisional level.
He said there should also not be any sulking among those not selected as candidates.
“What I want you all to do now is to settle any problem at the divisions in the spirit of the Umno family.
“I know which divisions have problems and which members are not on speaking terms with each other. Please resolve this,” he said.
Umno members, Najib added, must love the party and look after its interests more than themselves,
especially those who are not going to make the cut as candidates.
“If I like a person but the party says this person is a no-go, I have to say sorry but you didn’t make it.
“We have to accept this because we have to choose people who can truly win and bring success to the party,” he said.
Najib said another takeaway from this assembly is the need for all members to go out and ensure that Barisan wins big.
“The momentum is with us now and the wind is behind us,” he said.
Najib, who is also Prime Minister, said Barisan has the advantage because it is united and has the support of most of the country’s civil servants.
“Umno is the party of the future, compared to Pakatan Harapan, which is dominated by Tun Dr Mahathir and Lim Kit Siang, both figures from the past,” he told the delegates.
“Our youths must think about
this. If you want a party of the future, you cannot choose a man of the past.
“A man of the past will only bring ideas of the past into the future whereas we want new ideas,” he added.
Najib also slammed Pakatan for its inconsistency and about-turns on important policies such as the Goods and Services Tax and the 1Malaysia People’s Aid.
“We have a complete agenda whereas they are chaotic like a cartoon,” he said.
Najib called on Barisan component parties to ensure that they did not give any ground to the Opposition in GE14.
“We will go all out in this election. We will win and defend Putrajaya,” he said.