Umno Youth, Wanita wings for ‘Muafakat Nasional’ as way forward

KUALA LUMPUR: The second day of the 2019 Umno general assembly saw its two wings present their own agendas and development plans for the party as they strive to capture the hearts of voters again with “Muafakat Nasional”.

Speaking at the opening of the party’s youth wing yesterday, chief Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said it is time for Umno and its allies to move on from the Barisan Nasional (BN) era and embrace the “Muafakat Nasional” alliance with PAS.

He said it was time for the party’s leadership to institutionalise the alliance agreed to by both parties and include other races.

“The youth urge the party’s highest leadership to quickly institutionalise Muafakat Nasional and ensure it does not involve only Umno and PAS but also (other) BN component parties (MCA and MIC) and Friends of BN,” Asyraf said.

“We must prove to the people, that we, Umno, PAS, MCA and MIC are united as one. We must be seen and believed as the trusted alternative in providing much-needed peace, harmony and prosperity.”

Wanita chief Datuk Noraini Ahmad also outlined strategies for the wing ahead of the next general election, which included strengthening the structure of the Wanita wing and cooperation with PAS under Muafakat Nasional.

She added Umno would bring a resolution to amend the party’s constitution to uplift the status of the wing from a mere Wanita movement to Wanita Umno. The resolution will also uplift the status of the Wanita chief to be on par with the Umno deputy president.

Noraini said this is the new deal offered by Umno to Wanita, the largest wing of the party with a membership of 1.2 million.

Noraini also took a swipe at the “weak” Pakatan Harapan administration in her policy speech, saying: “Our government gives various excuses. Everything is BN’s fault but they themselves don’t know how to govern.”