KUALA LUMPUR: All Umno members must set aside their differences to ensure the Umno General Assembly (PAU) which begins on Wednesday, progress smoothly, said Umno permanent chairman Tan Sri Badruddin Amiruldin.
He said members should give priority to uphold the party’s struggle for race, religion and nation, and ensure that the party continues to be respected and honoured.
He was confident that the assembly this year would run smoothly without hitches as Umno members were mature in their thinking.
“Umno members love the party. As party members who are Muslims and Malays, more often we come to a compromise rather than be at loggerheads…we will find the best way to resolve matters should there be differences,” he told reporters here.
Badruddin, who is also chairman of the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) was speaking after the Young Agropreneur Symposium 2015 at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) here yesterday.
Badruddin added that Umno members should not use the PAU as a place to quarrel or argue.
“To rebuke another is common as Muslims; however it must be done prudently, we must respect one another, especially the elders and our leaders,” he said when asked of the possibility of anything unexpected happening at the assembly this year.
Badruddin also reminded party members that condemning the top party leaders whom they and the grassroots had selected was not a proper thing to do.
“What will people see in this Umno party ..we choose the leaders but we have no confidence in them,” he said adding that difference in this PAU would be the absence
of an opening speech by Umno deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, which was not violating any tradition, and in no way killing democracy in the party.
“According to party regulations, it is not compulsory to have a speech from the deputy president whenever there is a general assembly,” he said.
“To me, the Women, Youth and Puteri wings have their respective leaders, and if the leaders want to address and officiate at their individual wings’ meeting, it’s their rights… there are no hard and fast rules,” he added.
The opening of the three wings’ meeting will be officiated at by the respective wing leaders on Wednesday to be followed by the opening of the assembly by the party president on Thursday.
It is estimated that 5,732 Umno delegates will attend the assembly, with 2,762 members attending the general assembly on Thursday while the rest will be attending the general assembly of the three wings comprising 993 (Women), 992 (Youth) and 991 (Puteri). — Bernama