Umno wings open general assembly with one eye on Mahkota by-election
KUALA LUMPUR: Umno’s three wings could have bragged about the party’s stunning victory in the recent Nenggiri by-election, but Youth, Wanita and Puteri members were tempered in talking about how they recaptured the seat from Perikatan Nasional.
While the movements’ chiefs acknowledged how pleased they were with the win during their annual general assembly, their congratulatory words were subtle, and they cautioned members against being over-confident and complacent.
Even the debates touched on the matter fleetingly, mostly to thank the machinery for their hard work to capture the seat in Kelantan and to congratulate Kelantan Umno Youth chief Azmawi Fikri Abdul Ghani on his win.
Perhaps the only time the Nenggiri victory was exploited was when Umno Youth asked for the chance to represent the party again in the upcoming Mahkota by-election in Johor.
Its chief Dr Akmal Saleh argued that the movement had proved its worth by regaining support for Barisan Nasional in Nenggiri.
He said the Nenggiri polls indicated that the people’s confidence in Umno, including among young voters, had been restored.
“Out of the 20 voting streams for younger voters, we took over 18,” Dr Akmal said in his policy speech during the Umno Youth annual meeting.
Azmawi Fikri secured the seat for Barisan by an over 3,000-vote majority against Mohd Rizwadi Ismail, who was the favourite.
Wanita Umno chief Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad said while the movement was grateful for the win, there is more work to be done to continue to win over voters.
She called on members to continue to remain steadfast in their work instead of being too complacent and comfortable with the by-election win.
“Wanita Umno started the machinery way before the Nenggiri candidate was announced. We must continue to show the same commitment.
“Do not be swayed that we have regained support. And never forget the past, where we won in style in the Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar by-elections but lost Putrajaya (in the 14th General Election in 2018),” she added.
Puteri Umno chief Datuk Nurul Amal Mohd Fauzi said she hopes Barisan’s win in Nenggiri would be a step in the party’s climb to the peak again.
“We should not be complacent as the reality of politics today is that it constantly changes,” she said.
Responding to Umno Youth’s proposal, party president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said equal consideration would be given to Youth and Wanita leaders who have been proposed as candidates for the Mahkota seat.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also Barisan Nasional chairman, said the candidate must fit its Wali criteria (winnable, acceptable and likeable).
He said Johor Umno and the Kluang Umno division has submitted lists of proposed candidates and Barisan will decide on its choice next week.
The state seat in Johor was declared vacant following the death of assemblyman Datuk Sharifah Azizah Syed Zain on Aug 2.
The Election Commission has set nomination day on Sept 14 and polling is on Sept 28.
