Mat Hasan Calls For Umno S Radical And Inclusive Realignment

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Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan has urged the party’s Youth, Wanita, and Puteri wings to make “radical” changes to ensure the survival of the party
“As a political party, Umno has no choice. We must perform a serious, radical realignment
“After 18 months of being out of power, I invite delegates from Wanita, Youth, and Puteri to make the most radical changes together to restore Umno to its rightful place – as captain of the vessel called Malaysia,” he said in his speech officiating the wings’ general assembly at Putra World Trade Centre today
This realignment, he said, does not only mean political practices that can address the people’s legitimate concerns, but Umno must also be more open and inclusive

“This party must have an agenda to convince Malays and non-Malays that we are a better bet for their future and Malaysia’s future
“We cannot move forward without a concrete agenda, without a plan, and without an explanation of what we would do if entrusted to rule again
“And surely, we cannot rely solely on Pakatan Harapan’s failings to win,” he added
In his speech, Mohamad also told delegates that Umno’s future does not rest solely on the party’s three million members
“I don’t deny that it is important. However, Umno’s future is also determined by Malays, and the people of Malaysia as a whole – the non-members. Umno’s constituents have changed, and will continue to change,” he said amid rapturous applause
Also present at the event were Umno’s vice presidents Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Khaled Nordin, and Mahdzir Khalid; secretary-general Annuar Musa, treasurer-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, and information chief Shamsul Anuar Nasarah
In addition, Umno Wanita chief Noraini Ahmad, Youth chief Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, and Puteri chief Zahida Zarik Khan were also present on the mainstage, which was bedecked in red
Mohamad, who is also the Rantau assemblyperson, said Umno can no longer operate the way it did before
“We did everything unilaterally and forced it upon the Malays. That era is over,” he said
He added the most important thing for Umno is to topple Harapan
“We must be forerunners in rallying the people of Malaysia to reject Harapan, and make this a mass movement - the movement of people who truly felt cheated by Harapan after 18 months in power
“Pakatan Harapan has failed the country and its people systematically. They have failed in their promises, failed in running the country, failed in bringing their promised reforms
“Their priority is not to manage this country, but to determine who would be prime minister,” he said, as the audience cheered ‘Betul, betul’ (Correct, correct) in response to his jibes at Harapan
He said the infighting and power struggles in Harapan is disgraceful
“It has gone to the extent where even some of us got carried away, even used, by certain parties for the survival and political horse-trading of the politicians involved,” he said
Meanwhile at a press conference later, Mohamad explained that the radical realignment he mentioned in his speech refers to grooming successors to the party leadership who appreciate and understand Umno’s cause
“These successors need to be exposed to the struggle. They are our future leaders
“If the alignment is off early on when they are still young, then, later on, that fighting spirit would not be there in each leader
“If it’s not there, if they don’t live up to the party ideology or its struggles, I’m sure Umno would stray from its raison d'être,” he said when asked. - Mkini

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