Published on: Sunday, March 29, 2009 |
Kuala Lumpur: New Umno President Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has invited Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and former PM Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to sit down together with him to discuss the future of the party and country.
"I have a wish, to sit down together with these two statesmen and discuss the problems and the future of the party and country.
There may be some feeling of awkwardness at the first meeting but eventually cordiality will set in," he said in his acceptance speech after being declared the new Umno President at the party's general assembly at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) here.
Najib, who welcomed Dr Mahathir and was proud of his presence on the final day of the assembly, said he believed that it was "Umno blood that flowed in the statesman's veins".
Dr Mahathir had, on May 19 last year at a talk in Alor Star, announced his withdrawal from Umno, saying he had lost confidence in the party.
Najib said what was important was not emotion but the future of Umno and the country.
"If leaders such as these statesmen set a good example, we can close ranks and the delegates can draw inspiration from them," he said.
Najib said that with cooperation from Abdullah and Dr Mahathir, who upheld the struggle of the party, the new leadership line-up would be able to face coming challenges.
He said the time had come for Umno's leaders and grassroots to remain loyal to the party even after retirement because of the party's huge deed to the country.
"The siren has been sounded. Let's get on with Umno's struggle for the people of Malaysia. Let's carry on with our struggle. Umno will be empowered. God willing, we will succeed," he said.
Speaking to reporters after the assembly, Najib said, Dr Mahathir's presence at the assembly was a recognition to the new party leadership.
"Tun's presence indicates that there could be closing of the ranks in the party. I am hopeful this will inspire our party to move forward with our agenda to reform," he told reporters after the Umno general assembly.
Dr Mahathir and wife, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, made a surprise entry at the assembly. Later Dr Mathathir told reporters that he would apply to rejoin Umno.
