KOTA BAHARU, Dec 5 – The UMNO General Assembly 2015 would be an important meeting point to reinforce and continue the party’s struggle for the sake of the Malay race, Islam and the country. UMNO Information former chief Tan Sri Hussein Ahmad added, leaders and delegates should make full use of the opportunity during the occasion to strengthen unity and eliminate the seeds of discord. The general assembly will be held at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) from Dec 8 until Dec 12.
“I urge leaders at all levels not to sow any discord in UMNO, because disunity means disintegration which will lead to our fall as Malays. Unity and the zeal to realise the party’s struggle were very crucial in its preparation for the 14th General Election (GE14),” Hussein, 82, who was UMNO’s Information chief for 14 years since 1982 told reporters here Friday.
In the meantime, he was expressed his fear about the disunity in the party as what had been happened in 1988 that led to the formation of UMNO-breakaway party, Semangat 46, which was later disbanded. He also said that the episode should be a lesson to party members.
“UMNO was founded on genuine democracy; the advantage of democracy is that there is no problem that cannot be resolved. And to achieve the objectives of UMNO’s struggle in the interest of race, religion and the motherland, there must be tolerance among party members. If we can be tolerant towards other races, why can’t we be tolerant among ourselves in UMNO,” he said.
The UMNO veteran said, should there be contentions and opposing views among party leaders, it was better to “sit down and have a discussion”. He also reckoned that after its general assembly, the party, including its three wings, Wanita, Pemuda and Puteri would go on a multiple leap to draw up its road map in the preparation for GE14.
“UMNO’s former presidents Tun Mahathir Mohamad and Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and all perty members must focus on the party’s struggles. Don’t ever let the focus be on self interest, and UMNO and Barisan Nasional will win in the general election,” he said.
Meanwhile, he noted that irresponsible elements were constantly trying to poison the minds of the people against the government. In this regard, he said UMNO’s information machinery at all levels must work hard and draw up a strategy to disseminate information and explain current issues concerning the party and country to the people, effectively. He opined that the party’s information machinery team should be given courses and training from time to time.
