2 theSun
Umno Annual General Assembly 2009
Reports: Husna Yusop, Maria J. Dass, Tim Leonard, Karen Arukesamy, S. Hemananthani and Eva Yeong. Photos: Raj Kumar, Saiful Hizam Mansur, Kamariduan Mohd Noor and Sharil Amin
Walk the talk, Dr M
tells party and govt
FORMER Umno president Tun Dr
Mahathir Mohamad said it is up
to the party and the government
to deliver their promises to the
people as what they say and do
will be scrutinised now.
“It’s relatively easy to give
a speech and make promises
but after this, the people will be
watching if you’re able to deliver
your promises. You must walk
the talk,” said Mahathir, when
asked to comment on Umno
president Datuk Seri Najib Abdul
Razak’s maiden speech at the
party’s special general assembly
yesterday.
Mahathir described Najib’s
speech as “spirited” and felt
the prime minister realised the
problems faced by Umno and
planned to bring the party closer
to the people.
“He spoke about getting close
to the people. This is important
because many Umno leaders
are isolating themselves from
the people and are hoping that
by using their powers, they can
get support from the people. But
this is obviously not working,”
he said.
Asked to comment on the
MCA leadership crisis, Mahathir
said it was vital for component
parties to work together as a
split in these parties will reflect
badly on Barisan Nasional.
He said Umno cannot solely
depend on the Malay community
to rule the country.
“We need the component
parties. We have been work-
ing together, this country is a
multi-racial country, this country
cannot be ruled by just one race
even if they are in the majority,”
he said.
Mahathir said MCA is a good
and strong component party but
called on leaders who are no
longer wanted by the people to
step down.
Recently, he had urged MCA
president Datuk Seri Ong Tee
Keat to step down after a vote
of no-confidence against Ong at
the party’s extraordinary general
meeting (EGM) last Saturday.
“This culture of stepping
down is not yet developed in
this country. Everybody wants to
stay on forever. After 30 years,
people still want to stay there,”
said Mahathir, who was the
prime minister for 22 years.
Although he did not name
anyone, it was clear that he was
referring to MIC leader Datuk Seri
S. Samy Vellu, who has been the
party’s president since 1979.
Mahathir also said no party
should allow itself to be split into
two. He was relating his own
experience in 1986 when Tengku
Razaleigh Hamzah formed
Semangat 46 after losing when
he contested against Mahathir.
“From my experience, when
the president’s post is being
contested, no matter who wins,
you’re going to lose half the
party. That happened to me in
1986 when Tengku Razaleigh
contested against me. He lost
but I lost half of the party as they
joined Semangat 46. So whatever
you do, never allow the party to
be split into two,” he said.
Asked if the Umno constitu-
tional amendments will get rid
of the scourge of money politics,
Mahathir said the amendments
will make the party more
democratic but he was unsure if
money politics will be wiped out
completely.
“I am not so sure that you can
get rid of money politics but it is
a little bit more democratic per-
haps. I know these people, they
will try but I hope they will stop
making use of money in order to
get votes,” he said.
Mahathir was accompanied
by his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah
Mohd Ali.
However, former president
Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was
noticeably absent.
| FRIDAY OCTOBER 16 2009
Umno will change
change,, says Najib
Umno
delegates
show their
support for
the proposed
amendments
to the party PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Najib rity and ethics of Umno leaders “Umno leaders need to revive
constitution Razak yesterday called on Umno continues to grow – it will be a this culture of service and volun-
yesterday. to back his reform programmes, in- great factor that will cause the tarism for the party and the people
cluding efforts to make it inclusive public to detach themselves from as a whole,” he said.
and relevant to all the races so that us (Umno),” he said, adding that Najib said history has shown
the Barisan Nasional will be more an Umno leader should make an that the Malays have tended to
acceptable to the people. effort to mingle with people at be inclusive and have embraced
Much of what he said in his the grassroots lest they be seen as people of other races openly. Thus
two-hour-long opening speech at proud and arrogant. parties that accuse Malays of being
the Umno special general assem- racist should look in the mirror
bly, themed “Upholding Tradition, and check the racial composition
Realising Changes”, including the We know the in their own parties first.
call to make the party more serv-
ice-oriented, did not surprise the
rakyat still He also chided those who have
benefited from the New Economic
PPP
delegates as he had been articulat- loves Umno. All Policy launched in 1971, but failed
ing them since becoming the prime to distribute their wealth to those
wants minister in April. they want is for the who still need assistance.
Maglin The loud cheers and stand-
ing ovation he received from the
party to change. We “They say they can stand on
their own two feet and no longer
to replace delegates at the end of his speech have heard them. need crutches but they failed to
Murugiah were clearly a strong endorsement
We will change.” acknowledge the fact that there are
of what he is doing and what he others who still need the aid. Is this
pg 4 is going to do as spelt out in his – Najib fair?” he asked.
speech. “The issue here is no longer aid
Najib told the party members Najib said Umno is at a cross- but the question of how it is man-
to discard the common perception roads where its aspirations should aged and distributed, because from
that Umno is a party which people match that of the majority of the a wider perspective, the Malays are
join in order to make a living and rakyat. still seen as a community that has
a party that promotes the interests Slow implementation of changes been left behind and in need of
of certain groups of people. towards matching what people aid.”
He said all members must try to want may cause Umno to be seen He said the recipe for success
be people with integrity and must as a party that is not grounded, ar- used in Bagan Pinang will be used
work to ensure that the party is rogant, ignorant and thus a part of elsewhere. Najib said the message
seen and trusted as an inclusive a problem rather than a solution. to Umno at the 12th general elec-
party that puts the interests of the He said past Umno leaders gave tion was loud and clear and the
rakyat above all else. their all to fight for the causes of party realised and regret-
“This is very Umno but this service above self ted its mistakes.
Datuk important in quality is disap- “We know the
Mukhriz convincing pearing. rakyat still loves
bows to kiss the people Umno. All they
the hand of to continue want is for
his father supporting the party to
as a mark of the party, change. We
respect at because if have heard
the Umno the negative them. We
general perception will change,”
assembly about the he said.
yesterday. integ-