Tawfik lauds Umno’s open stand

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno’s leaders were quite open to the fact that they did not just want a Malay victory but for Barisan Nasional to achieve a multi-racial victory in the general election, said moderation advocate Mohamed Tawfik Ismail.

“They want not only the Malay votes but everybody’s votes. So, I think they are more open unlike the previous year,” he said commending the party for showing moderation during its recent general assembly.

Tawfik also commended Wanita Umno saying that they seemed to be more united and prepared to face the general election unlike the women’s wings in the opposition.

“It was always the women on the ground that made a difference dur- ing the last weeks of campaigning.

“It was always the women who stay in the kampung and made sure basic needs of the residents are looked after,” he added.

He noted that the machinery of the women’s wings of Umno and Barisan were generally quite experienced and effective on the ground.

Tawfik was happy that cooperation with PAS was not extensively discussed during the general assembly, as this showed Umno was in a more inclusive mode.

Datuk Noor Farida Ariffin, a member of the Group of 25 Eminent Malays (G25), said while it was good to see Umno being moderate during the general assembly, the party needed to demonstrate this with their actions.

“Of course we would welcome a more moderate Umno, but they need to prove it,” she said.

Noor Farida was still concerned over Umno’s cooperation with PAS and the Private Member’s Bill, better known as RUU355, that seeks to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 to give the court power to mete out harsher punishments for syariah offences.

“The most worrying thing for a lot of people is the alliance between Umno and PAS, especially on Islamic issues and RUU355,” she added.

She said Malaysia is a multi-racial country and racial unity should not be jeopardised

We would welcome a more moderate Umno, but they need to prove it. Datuk Noor Farida Ariffin