KANGAR: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Umno needs candidates who are popular and capable of winning in the next General Election (GE).
He said that describing certain selected candidates as outsiders must be discarded because such a perception was no longer suitable under current developments in politics.
“Of course in the past (in Umno), when a candidate from outside the State Legislative Constituency is chosen to contest in a different state constituency, the candidate is considered as an outsider and thus there is a protest against the party leadership.
“This time around, when we choose, (we) don’t want any more delegation coming by bus to show protest. Our objective is to win and form the government. Being merely a leader for a long time is meaningless,” he said.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also Umno vice-president, said this when opening the Kangar Umno division delegates conference, here yesterday.
He said Umno’s objectives might not be achieved if there were members who still harboured ill-feelings against the leadership and ruling government.
“The time is now right for Umno to be given a new ‘soul’, not just registering new members and rejuvenating the party ahead of the coming GE.
“Umno looks after its house well, regardless of its occupants, if they (occupants) leave the party they would become the victims of others.
“Thus we have to defend our fortress in the coming GE and to seize back the seats that were lost in the last GE,” said Ahmad Zahid.
He said that Umno, as a mature party, could accept any differing opinion but it could not compromise on principles.
“Differences in opinions are not unusual in Umno but they must be interpreted through the political agenda,” he said, adding that the leaders of today must have strong fighting spirit because differing opinions attracted various challenges. — Bernama