KUALA NERUS, Aug 22 — Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was overwhelmed by the welcome and preparations by the party’s Kuala Nerus division which invited him to open its delegates meeting today. 

“It is extraordinary and different from others,” he said. 

The prime minister said the welcome accorded to him and venue for the meeting were a complete package which was special to him. 

“Why it is extraordinary, among others rarely do we have opening of delegates’ meeting in a stadium, normally it is in school halls, municipal council halls, but the Kuala Nerus one is very special, it is in an indoor stadium,” he said  when opening the meeting at the Gong Badak Sports Complex Indoor Stadium here.

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Also present were Terengganu Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman, who is State Umno liaison chairman, his deputy Datuk Jailani Johari, who is also Deputy Communications and Multimedia Minister and members of the state executive council.

Najib said such a welcome was an indication that the spirit of the “blue wave” (the Barisan Nasional wave), which started in Terengganu, was still strong, despite various challenges facing Umno today. 

The prime minister, who arrived in a special aircraft at the Sultan Mahmud Airport here, was taken on a trishaw to the stadium, about half a kilometre away.

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In his speech, Najib also advised Umno members to continue to pursue the party’s struggles despite the various challenges facing it. 

“We have gone through a dark period in Terengganu and it is still fresh in our minds.

That is why when we assemble in this hall, it is important for us to strengthen our determination, our spirit, so that in whatever condition, what is crucial is for Umno’s struggle to be upheld.

“In pursuing our goals, we have to hold on to our culture and values, not just in numbers,” he added. 

Before leaving the venue, Najib joined the people for a “Jamuan Rakyat” (People’s Feast) held in the compound of the stadium. 

Najib is on a one-day visit to the east coast states. He will head to Kelantan next to attend the ‘Leader With the People’ programme in Lubuk Jong, Rantau Panjang.  — Bernama