KUALA LUMPUR: Umno leaders should understand the opposition’s moves and handle issues raised aggresively in order not to make the party look weak, said Umno deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Muhyiddin, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, said issues related to government policies administration, statements made by leaders and programmes implemented which are twisted by the opposition should be countered with confidence based on facts.
He said if the opposition’s lies were not countered, people might believe them to be the truth and this would make Umno and the government to appear weak, which in turn could cause an erosion of support.
“I am sure we are aware of various issues they (Opposition) have raised all this while.
“They go around the country holding meetings and campaigns openly where they deride the government by telling lies.
“We cannot just keep silent because we have the facts and figures to counter their lies,” he said when opening Federal Territory (FT) Umno’s annual convention here yesterday.
Also present were FT Umno chairman Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin, its information chief Datuk Dr Mohd Shafie Abdullah and Putrajaya Umno head Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor.
Muhyiddin said now the younger generation of leaders were expressing concern that that the administration was slow to react to the lies spread by the opposition, especially in the new media (Internet).
He said this should be taken seriously by government and Umno leaders because the they (younger generation of leaders) would be the future leaders of the country.
Muhyiddin said in this Internet age, leaders must respond quickly to issues raised, failing which they risked losing support form the people. Umno leaders, he said, need to have wide knowledge of issues raised so that they were in a position to counter allegations hurled at the government and the party.
As such, Muhydiddn said he hoped information programmes would be arranged from time to time by highly capable people to clarify issues raised.
“We must be proactive. We cannot be defensive but be assertive in tackling whatever challenges that may come in our way,” he said. — Bernama