Opening speech: Johari speaking at the 2024 Federal Territories Barisan Convention at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur. — Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional has to immediately address four “ailments” that plague the coalition and which caused it to be rejected by voters in the 15th General Election in 2022, says Federal Territories Barisan chairman Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani.
The Umno vice-president named the four “ailments” as being delusional, amnesia, inertia and arrogance.
“Delusional because we assume that voters still support us due to our past contributions; then we have amnesia, where we forget the real purpose of setting up our party and what it’s for, which is to build this country.
“Inertia because voters have rejected us, but we remain like this and don’t want to change, (remaining) static.
“And we need to destroy the arrogant syndrome, when we just seem to can’t accept being admonished, can’t accept other’s opinions, we don’t want to admit or accept reality when we’ve done wrong, and worse, we don’t want to compromise,” Johari, also the Plantation and Commodities Minister, said in his opening speech at the 2024 Federal Territories Barisan Convention at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur here yesterday.
The event was officiated by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in his capacity as Barisan chairman.
Johari called every Barisan member not to give up in the effort to change and become a strong coalition in the national political landscape.
“The first rule is don’t give up; address these four ailments. We need to move forward as a team and unite, whether Malay, Chinese, Indian, we work together,” he said. — Bernama
