Najib signals Umno to get ready for general election
Published on: Wednesday, November 30, 2016
Kuala Lumpur: Prime Minister and Umno President Datuk Seri Najib Razak has blown the "war horn" for the party to get ready for the 14th General Election (GE14). Party leaders who attended the closed-door presidential briefing of this year's Umno annual general assembly said Najib had instructed the party machinery to begin the groundwork immediately. "He told us to be prepared. He wanted us to make early preparations for the general election.
ADVERTISEMENT
"We don't know when but the war horn had been blown for Umno to be ready for the polls," Umno Youth Chief Khairy Jamaluddin told reporters after attending the briefing at Putra World Trade Centre here. "There were a few issues that he shared with us, which makes us understand what his position and what he had done as president. "But what is clear is that the signal for us to be prepared at all times so we can continue to serve our race, religion and country," party Information Chief Tan Sri Annuar Musa told reporters. Annuar added that while Najib did not indicate when the national polls will be held, his message indicated that it could be near.
ADVERTISEMENT
"He did say generally that as a party, it must be ready as elections might be called soon". Party Supreme Council member Datuk Razali Ibrahim said strengthen the unity among party members and serve the people wholeheartedly were among the essences of Najib's message to Umno members.
ADVERTISEMENT
He said the messages were given as part of the party's strategies in facing various challenges of the GE14. "The president noted that only unity and wholehearted service could address various challenges that were now being faced by the party," he said.Puteri Umno Chief Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin saw the president's message as a pull factor for the Umno members to work even harder in defending the rights of the people. "The president's message was directed specially for the Umno leaders as their responsibilities are getting heavier and we don't have any other choice other than to win the election," she added. Analysts polled recently said this year's Umno general assembly will likely see more pro-Malay rhetoric from both delegates and leaders in an bid to defuse any political threat from the splinter Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM). They believe PPBM, the new Malay outfit chaired by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, has the potential to menace Umno in the next general election. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
Daily Express Malaysia
