Focus on GE14 instead of party polls — Najib

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KUALA LUMPUR: Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak wants party members to focus on the 14th General Election, to be held soon instead of the party’s polls.

“I see there are (party members) playing ‘tali halus’. I have been involved in politics for a long time, I know who they support. It’s ok to play with the ‘tali halus’ but do not lose focus and direction,” he said in his winding up speech on the debate on the motions at the end of the 2016 Umno general assembly here yesterday.

Najib said after the party managed to resolve its internal issues, Umno members should now focus towards the GE14 to ensure Barisan Nasional’s (BN) victory.

“If we look at the spirit of our struggle, we have one determination, once we have resolved the Umno’s internal issues, (now) we should be ready to face the GE14, not the Umno’s election,” he said.

The BN’s mandate will end in June 2018, while the last Umno election was held in October 2013.

The party election which was scheduled for this year was postponed by 18 months.

The Prime Minister also reminded party members not to get carried away by the victories in the Sarawak state election as well as in the Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar by-elections, but to continue to work hard to ensure victory in the GE14.

“We should realise winning in one or two (elections) does not mean that we will win the biggest test later (GE14),” he said.

Najib also warned the party members to never underestimate the ability of the opponents, as well as not to fully believe in opinion polls carried out for any competitions.

He also cited the Britain’s decision to leave the European Union and the result of the United States Presidential Election which was won by Donald Trump from the Republican as examples of inaccurate opinion polls.

In the meantime, Najib said the foreign observers at this year’s general assembly viewed Umno as a unique party because its struggles not only focused on the more than three million party members but also for all Malaysians.

“In the three-day debate, Umno does not think about its members alone but also 31 million Malaysians. Umno wants to be the driving force of the national transformation,” he said.

Speaking at a press conference held later, Najib however refused to comment on whether the GE14 would be held within the next six-month period.

“Apart from the feel good factor, there are many other factors that should be taken into account, based on the situation and attitude of the people and the effectiveness of the government’s efforts.

“That is why we have to give our machinery some period of time to carry out the neccessary work. Our task now is to win the hearts of the people. Make sure that the people are with us. This is what I want every Umno member and machinery to do,” he said.

He said the party would focus on approaching, solving the problems faced by the people and delivering the message to them. — Bernama