4 theSun
Umno Annual General Assembly 2009
Khairy’s challenge:
To revive spirit of service
REVIVING the true spirit of service
with sincerity and commitment is
Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin
biggest challenge in the party’s trans-
formation.
Calling on youths to stop asking
what the party and leadership can do
for them, Khairy said “they should,
instead, work on how they can serve
and contribute to the party”.
“The culture of expecting and ask-
ing for incentives and extraordinary
returns from the party should be
stopped,” he told a press conference
after the presidential address.
‘Vital to win back
support’
PERAK delegate Datuk Ahmad
Shalimin Shaffie said the loss of
Perak to Pakatan Rakyat in the last
general election was a loss of pride
for Barisan Nasional (BN).
“The rakyat punished BN and as
a result, Perak fell into the hands of
the Opposition. We contested in 34
seats and lost seven,” he said dur-
ing the debate on the presidential
speech.
“From this, we should all learn
that when power is lost, we should
be prepared to lose our pride, too.”
Ahmad Shalimin said it was
now vital to win back the support
of the people with the help of the
BN component parties in the next
general election.
“I want to give my all to help
the president revive the spirit of the
youths to serve whole-heartedly and
sincerely.
“If members do not go down to
the ground to truly serve the people
without any expectation, the party will
never be able to survive or win back
the people’s support.
“We must practise volunteerism
in our service. That is the meaning of
service.”
Agreeing with Prime Minister Datuk
Seri Najib Abdul Razak’s call that in-
centives must be given to those who
Don’t let spirit and fire die,
says delegate
UMNO Youth executive council member
and Kuantan Youth chief Mohd Suffian
Awang said the party must remember that
merely amending the constitution and hop-
ing for a huge transformation would not
take the party anywhere.
“It is the determination of members
in wanting to transform that will ensure
success. Although this is the first step in
moving towards a huge transformation,
all members should not be complacent,
thinking that we have done a great job by
successfully amending the constitution,”
he said.
Suffian said Umno should be humble
and refrain from political arrogance when
working towards garnering the support of
the people.
“It is the branch level activities and
| FRIDAY OCTOBER 16 2009
A crowd follows
the proceedings
PPP wants
of the Umno
assembly
Maglin to
at Dewan
Merdeka, Putra
World Trade
Centre on a big
screen.
replace
truly deserve it, Khairy said: “All those
Murugiah
KUALA LUMPUR: People’s Progres-
sive Party (PPP) vice-president Datuk
who already have the influence and Maglin D’Cruz is expected to replace
the resources, the professionals who If members Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s
have the qualifications and skills, now
should all take responsibility and start do not go Department Datuk T. Murugiah as the
down to the party’s sole representative in the gov-
giving and contributing to the party.” ernment.
He said Najib’s expectation of trans- ground to Party president Datuk M. Kayveas told
formation in the party was not just the truly serve theSun he had briefed Prime Minister
amendments to the party constitution the people Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak on the party
but the whole mindset and attitudes of leadership’s decision to have Maglin
Umno. without any
replace Murugiah.
“We should be people friendly, leave expectation, “The prime minister has no objections
the old pride and be humble in dealing the party to the party’s request,” Kayveas said
with grassroots matters. This is a battle will never after meeting Najib at the Umno general
of survival,” he said.
be able to assembly yesterday.
survive or He declined to elaborate further on
win back
the people’s
what transpired at the meeting.
“I will leave it to the PM to make an
announcement at an appropriate time,”
support.”
– Khairy
he said.
In May, Murugiah was sacked from
the party following a major disagreement
social welfare programmes, continuously with Kayveas and senior party leaders.
held, that can help to start the ball rolling He then convened an extraordinary
towards transformation,” he said during the general meeting which elected him as
debate on the presidential address. the president.
“Don’t just let the spirit and fire die However, a month later, the registrar
off after this assembly. Ensure that all the of societies declared Kayveas as the
pledges and promises are delivered at rightful president.
branch level because that is the closest On Wednesday, Murugiah filed
level of the party to the grassroots.” a RM10 million defamation suit
Suffian said Umno must pay close atten- against Kayveas.
tion to the voices of the NGOs “because In his statement of
these are the groups that deal with claim, Murugiah
the people, for the people”. said Kayveas had
“There is no other entity in made defama-
the community that knows the tory statements
people and their issues better in several news
than them as they deal with conferences that
all aspects of the community were untrue and
at various levels,” he said. had ulterior mo-
tives.