KUALA LUMPUR: Umno members have been told to prepare themselves for another round of election battle and that one way to ensure success is to stay united.
They were told this during a briefing by top party leaders on the events that transpired after the 15th General Election which led to Umno being part of the unity government.
In the closed-door presidential briefing before the start of the Umno General Assembly 2022, delegates said party chief Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had stressed on the importance of unity among members and ranks to face polls that would be taking place in six states later this year.
Umno supreme council member Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan said the president had called on members not to be pessimistic in facing political challenges.“He outlined that with the strength of Barisan Nasional, plus the strength of Pakatan Harapan, a new political formula can be created for the country and Malaysians,” he said when met after the briefing.Six states – Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, Negri Sembilan, Selangor and Penang – will be holding their state polls in the coming months.
On whether Umno and Barisan would be working with Pakatan in the state polls, Abdul Rahman said the president had indicated that cooperation with the latter must be at all levels.
“So, in my opinion, there will be some form of cooperation within the unity government to face other contesting parties,” he said.
On the unity government, Abdul Rahman said the president gave a chronological order on what transpired after GE15 and how complicated and challenging it was to achieve an agreement.
Meanwhile, several Umno leaders were conspicuously absent during the briefing.
Among those not seen at the briefing were Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Sembrong Umno chief Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hussein.
However, Ismail Sabri later turned up for the opening of the Umno Youth, Wanita and Puteri wings’ meeting.
