PUTATAN: Wanita Umno members here have been advised to make house calls to register new members in their constituency.
Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Datuk Yahya Hussin made the call during a ‘Sentuhan Mesra’ programme for Wanita Umno members of P172 Putatan yesterday.
He said that the house calls should become part of the party’s strategy to woo new voters before the forthcoming general elections.
Yahya who is also Sabah Umno liaison secretary, said between 1,000 to 2,000 people had yet to register in the constituency which has over 20,000 voters.
The movement was also urged to advise every voter they meet to update their address with the Election Commission.
He said registered voters who have resided in Putatan for over 10 years should become voters in the constituency.
According to Yahya, many people have registered to vote in far places like Semporna or Tawau but are residing in Putatan. They are not going to travel all the way to these places merely to cast their votes in view of the cost factor.
“So why not urge them to make the amendment and become voters in the constituency. It is such a waste of votes,” he said.
“In any case, this is a democratic country, so it is up to them (the voters) whether they want to make the amendment or not,” he said.
Yahya also mentioned the importance for a political party like Umno to devise its own strategies and it becomes imperative for Umno to have a pool of people who would continuously work towards increasing the party’s membership.
The members should also have confidence with the party and possess strong beliefs in its mission and objectives, he said.
He added that Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) are the only parties in the country which truly cared for the well-being of the people and this was reflected in the numerous programmes undertaken by the government to eradicate abject poverty.
According to Yahya, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman are living up to the party’s motto of ‘people first, performance now’ when executing their duties and responsibilities.
Touching on the programme, Yahya said it was one of the movement’s activities in preparation for the upcoming polls.
Meanwhile, Umno Sabah yesterday donated a van to the division’s Wanita movement at a ceremony attended by Sabah Wanita Umno information chief Datuk Jainab Ahmad Ayid and Putatan Wanita Umno chief Hajah Normah Mohd Sari.