Set right to what had gone wrong within the Umno family, says Najib

KOTA TINGGI, Aug 14 — Datuk Seri Najib Razak today called on Umno members to continue defending the sacred party while reminding them to set right to whatever had gone wrong within the Umno family.

The prime minister and Umno president said there was no other choice for Umno members but to defend the party in preserving the dignity of the Malays in future.

“Just like in a home, if a furniture piece is not suitable we can replace or place it elsewhere. If there are chipped crockeries we can buy a new set and if the curtains are torn we can replace them with new curtains.

“But if we were to destroy this Umno house, where are we to go to seek for shelter? This means that if Umno dies the house is destroyed. Where do we go and who can we depend on? The answer — there is no one,” he said.

He was speaking at the opening of the Kota Tinggi Umno division delegates’ conference at Dataran Sedili Besar, Tanjung Sedili here today.

Najib said that as party president, he had always been big hearted and, as an example at the last Umno general assembly, he had taken the initiative to extend his hand as a show of peace and unity but unfortunately his handshake was ignored.

He added that former Umno leaders had chosen a different path which was against what Umno stood for.

“For this reason we need Umno as a party to unite the Malays. Our struggle began in the compounds of the Istana Besar Johor Baru which is no ordinary venue, that was where we had ignited the fighting spirit in our struggle to unite the Malays and we want to continue this struggle to uphold our race, religion and country,” he said.

Najib also criticised the new party, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia which had planned to cooperate with the DAP which had never supported indigenous group and Bumiputera rights.

“In fact, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Tan Sri Muhyiddin (Yassin) themselves while in Umno had referred them as anti-Islam, anti-Malay and chauvinistic. They had said it clearly while they were in Umno, but today they are saying something else,” he said.

“How is the Pribumi going to work with the DAP which had openly not supported any struggle to elevate the race, religion and country?

“What is their stand on Article 153 of the Constitution on the Special Privileges of the Malays, in upholding Islam in this country and in safeguarding the rights of the Malay rulers. Obviously they have none,” he said.

As such the Umno president was confident that Umno members including Johor Umno would intensify efforts to rouse the Umno spirit for Johor to emerge as a stronghold for Umno and Barisan Nasional in the 14th general election.

“A pledge is not enough, there should be a plan. There must be efforts put in and solidarity. I believe there is no reason why Johor cannot be maintained as an Umno stronghold,” said Najib.

Najib, who is the first prime minister to set foot on Kampung Sedili Besar, also announced approval for an allocation to widen and straighten the road leading to the village for the convenience of the local community.

Over 1,000 Umno members and local residents waited as early as 7 am to welcome the arrival of the Umno president.

Also present were Umno Liaison Committee chairman, who is also Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin and Kota Tinggi Umno division chief Datuk Daing A Malek A Rahman. — Bernama