KUALA LUMPUR: While Umno will maintain the use of the Barisan Nasional logo in the 16th General Election, it does not rule out collaborating with other parties in the unity government, says Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
“The grassroots leadership wants Umno to maintain the use of the ‘dacing’ (scales) in the next polls and their argument is that voters are familiar with the Barisan logo.
“Umno leadership agrees that this should be maintained.
“At the same time, we do not rule out collaborating with the 18 parties in the unity government,” he told reporters after a closed-door presidential briefing with delegates attending the Umno general assembly.
Ahmad Zahid said that while a collaboration was possible, the use of the Barisan logo would avoid overlapping. It is also about gaining the support of voters.
The Umno president said the party should maintain good working relations with other parties in the unity government and not just collaborate during elections.
“This is one of five guiding principles that I presented to Umno delegates during my briefing. We must work together not just among ourselves, but close working relations should extend between Umno and other parties in the unity government,” he added.
Ahmad Zahid also stressed to delegates that while Umno’s main agenda was for the Malays and Islam, those of other races, ethnicities, religions, cultures and languages must not be left out.
“As we champion our agenda, we must make a genuine effort to reach out to the other races.”
On Umno’s successful outing at the Nenggiri by-election, Ahmad Zahid said the by-election will serve as a catalyst for its members to strengthen the party.
The by-election results have motivated the party members and have galvanised their fighting spirit, he added.
“The win has changed the situation for Umno now, and Nenggiri serves as a catalyst for this,” he told reporters when met at the World Trade Centre here yesterday.
For this year’s Umno general assembly, he said the focus would be on strengthening the bumiputra economic agenda.
“For the long term, we will see to it that our national agenda will be translated and implemented.
“The party grassroots must also carry out this, not just the seven Umno Cabinet members and six deputy ministers,” he added.
Ahmad Zahid said this general assembly will also address efforts to strengthen and restructure Umno’s machinery.
“While the 16th General Election may still be some way away, we need to prepare now,” he added.
Barisan Nasional clinched victory in the Nenggiri by-election in Kelantan, snatching the seat PAS won in last year’s state election.
Barisan candidate Mohd Azmawi Fikri Abdul Ghani secured 9,091 votes, while Mohd Rizwadi Ismail, who ran under the PAS banner, had 5,739 votes.
