‘Umno can wrest back Selangor with strong grassroots support’

0

Ahmad Zahid (centre) and Abdul Rahim at Gombak Umno division delegates conference in Kuala Lumpur. — Bernama photo

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno can wrest back Selangor if party leaders at all divisions and branches work closely together to overcome all the problems that occurred during previous general elections, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Ahmad Zahid, who is Umno vice president assuming the duties of party deputy president, said this was because Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) had lost their seats to the opposition parties in Selangor with only slim majority, including in Gombak.

”I believe we can wrest back the state, but we must not depend only on the party leadership at the top level.

“Don’t just leave it to Tan Sri Noh Omar (Selangor BN and Umno chairman) to do it alone. He needs strong cooperation from his battalion (Umno members at the grassroots) to win back Selangor,” he said when opening the Gombak Umno division delegates conference, which was also attended by Noh and Gombak Umno division chief Datuk Abdul Rahim Kamarudin, here yesterday.

While taking advantage of the opposition’s domestic crisis to win the hearts of the people, Ahmad Zahid said Umno members should also take a lesson from the crisis and not to fight each other.

“I want to remind everyone again that the opposition is now badly injured and Umno, especially in Selangor, must strengthen control of our seats, we must work closely together and not fighting each other.

“We don’t want Malaysia and Selangor to be separated and the people’s rights to be denied. Enough is enough. From now on, we will work to wrest back Selangor, starting from Gombak. Then only we can translate bigger agenda for the people,” he said.

Ahmad Zahid said Selangor Umno members should also learn a lesson from their experience, especially after losing the state due to the opposition’s populist game and lack of support from the fence-sitters.

“We spent our time and energy to plant the trees, but other people simply snatched the fruits away. The same thing is happening is Penang,” he added. — Bernama