Allow young leaders to contest new seats: Yamani
Published on: Sunday, August 28, 2016
Tawau: Barisan Nasional (BN) may be faced with issues and problems if the top leadership decides to field "recycled leaders" in the 13 imminent new Sabah State seats in the coming election.Sabah Umno Youth Chief Yamani Hafez Datuk Seri Musa Aman (pic) said the ruling government needs to consider and provide chances for young people to fill the new seats either from the Youth, Puteri or Wanita wings. "It is not easy for the young people to be active in politics and 'penetrate the existing market'…that is why with the additional 13 seats should give a chance to young leaders irrespective of their parties they are from among the component parties in BN," he said, after opening the delegation meeting of Umno Tawau Youth wing, here, Saturday.
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Also present were Umno Tawau Youth Chief Ariffin Kassim and Umno Kalabakan Youth Chief Muhd Andy Suryady Bandy. Yamani said Umno Youth is not pressing the central leadership on their recommendation but the wing is relying on the wisdom of the top leaders to gauge the need, suitability and merit of selecting the election candidates for the new state seats by taking into account the demography aspect of the population in certain areas. "If they are many young voters below 40, then the young leaders must be given the appropriate consideration to represent those voters and the communities overall," he said.He said Umno cannot dominate most of the new seats but the selection of those who should be contesting at those seats must be based on merit.
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Among the aspects to be considered, Yamani said, is performance and based on logic which are more influential among the community and find out who they are working for."Do not talk about race or certain ethnic groups if the leader himself or herself is not favoured by his or her own race and people because they (leaders) are lazy and not looking after their own constituency.
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"It (selection of election candidates) should be based on records of performance, and merit as well as winnable candidate but not based on parties," he said.Yamani said the current challenge faced by Umno come from their own members as some may become spies and not the issue of new political parties that were claimed could threaten the party."I believe the challenge of Sabah Umno is internally because we fear that our own members are waiting a good time to join a new party or continue become spies which was the main reason they remain in Umno."Maybe also they might leave the party (Umno) at last minute…and maybe they will not leave now as they are waiting for the announcement of the election next year. This is what I fear and the big challenge for Umno." Yamani said external challenges like opposition parties are predictable as it would not be easy for peninsula-based opposition parties such as PAS, PKR and DAP and those working with local opposition leaders like Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan and Datuk Wilfred Bumburing.He said these opposition parties from peninsula and in Sabah have yet to work together.He said Umno has certain expectations and predictions about these opposition but yet to have clear one for internal challenges in Umno.Hence, Yamani reminded Umno youth members in Sabah to set in mind that "what is sacred is the party and not individual". He said there is no need to speculate on the new party (Parti Pribumi) under the leadership of Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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