‘Members must have winning mentality’
We have gone through so many trials and tribulations, and our party and leaders have been attacked from left and right with so many issues as though Umno has done nothing good. So, we decided to hold the convention to gather those who love the party as well as those willing to fight for our religion, race and country. I could see the level of confidence had increased from past conventions. We didn’t discuss petty things and focused solely on our political survival. We discussed critical issues, like the survival of Malays, Muslims and the country, in this challenging world.
In politics, we must aim high and be able to face tests. We must have the confidence to win, not just a slim win, but a two-thirds majority. That is why we want to imbue members with the “winning mentality”. But aims must be supported with a strong will and hard work that must be done systematically and with a target. We have been doing that through approaches that involve the grassroots. We are also micro-targeting. Things must be well translated at the grassroots level and not just look good on paper.
This will depend on the leaders themselves. Are they strong and confident? Are they more focused on being chosen as a candidate in the next general election? The top leadership is monitoring this because it is about the survival of our party. We will know who can be trusted and sincere enough to be with the leadership when the party needs them most.
if we win, we know who we should take along.
The realisation is there that focusing on the GE is most important now. We have to realise that it does not matter what position you have in the party. If Umno is not given the mandate and power by the people, there is no point. Leaders in areas that we have lost can attest to this. This was also what we emphasised at KPAU.
We have various channels for members to voice their suggestions. We even have cabinet ministers serving as chairman in task forces and presenting motions, and they include Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh and Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid (education), Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom and Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki (religion) and Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani (finance).
Our members’ voices would not only be presented to the ministers, but will also be discussed and included in the motions that would be debated at the general assembly. Umno has the channels and is democratic and inclusive enough. We listen to all to build a country that is inclusive, and Umno will make sure that the people’s voices are heard, deliberated on and turned into policies that can benefit all, not only members of the party. people that, through Umno, the ruling coalition was able to include feel-good factors in the budget. It was the outcome of our fights, and we must take ownership of the budget. I can see that it was well accepted by the people. It is important that it is translated to the grassroots in a more rational way as we don’t want people to spin issues or deny our success.
The Defence Ministry, for example, will get almost everything that we asked for. We have our direction that includes focus on, among others, the country’s security preparedness, welfare of security forces, National Service programme, housing agenda... everything was included in the budget. During the tabling of the budget, the prime minister did not touch on everything as it is up to us to explain this to the grassroots. They should know that their welfare, education and health are taken care of. Some parties will try to make use of one