MALAYSIAN UMNO FUTURE IS IN JEOPARDY IF CURRENT POLITICAL CRISIS NO HANDLE IMMEDIATELY
Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein(photo) has
expressed fear for the future of the party if the current political crisis is
not handled immediately.
He said members must remain united as the party was facing
challenges threatening its survival in the face of the recent Cabinet reshuffle
and 
1Malaysia Development Bhd controversy.
1Malaysia Development Bhd controversy.
"If we do not overcome this test and challenges
immediately, effectively and maturely, we will soon become history," he
told a press conference after opening the Ledang Umno division meeting here
yesterday.
Hishammuddin warned that if disharmony persisted, the
country might share the fate of some Middle Eastern countries, where conflicts
contributed to the downfall of their governments.
He cited Egypt, Libya, Iraq, Yemen and Syria as examples
where public institutions, the government and the country collapsed due to
continuous internal diplomatic and political misunderstanding.
"We cannot let the waves of tragedy that happened in
those countries happen here," he added, urging members to put the party's
interests ahead of other considerations and accept the Cabinet reshuffling
responsibly.
He said party deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin
himself had asked members to focus efforts on strengthening the party and also
pledged to continue working towards the party's struggle.
"The truth is that Muhyiddin is still the party's
deputy president and we will continue to respect him," he said.
He also expressed support for Johor Umno's 10-year plan
outlined by state party chairman Datuk Mohamed Khaled Nordin as an effort to
restore Umno's strength in the state.
"I believe any initiative taken in Johor during this
time of political crisis will be welcomed by the public and that is why I
personally support the efforts," he said.
Source:Agency
MALAYSIAN UMNO NOT READY FOR POLLS?
JITRA,Malaysia - Umno is not ready for a general election as its members are not fully behind the party, former president Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said.Umno may face an even bigger loss if the general election is held soon as the fighting spirit of its members is waning, he added.
"I still see factions in the party as some members are loyal only to individual leaders and not to the party.- "When their preferred candidate is not chosen they will sabotage the other candidate."
- Dr Mahathir, the country's fourth prime minister, was speaking to reporters after meeting Federal village security and development committee members in Kedah at the Dewan Wawasan here yesterday.
He feared this "culture" would again rear its head after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announces the candidates for the next general election.- "It is my view that Umno members are focusing more on becoming elected representatives or division chiefs, as they believe they will then be given projects when holding such posts," he said.
- Dr Mahathir said when Umno was fighting for the country's independence, its members were willing to surrender their jewellery to support the party.
- "Now, if we ask members to contribute, they will ask for something in return," he said.
Commenting on the hudud law that PAS said it will implement, Dr Mahathir said it was merely a gimmick to gain support for the party."It is not suitable to implement hudud law in a multiracial country like Malaysia," he said.
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