KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 3- Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin urged Umno members to chose candidates who could truly lead and advance the party at its coming polls.
Muhyiddin, who was Umno deputy president, said the election this time provided a good system to determine who were really sincere in working and championing the party’s struggle.
“They are the ones who should be given the opportunity and space to lead and advance the party,” he said at a breaking-of-the-fast function organised by Federal Territory Umno and Titiwangsa Umno at the Al Imam As Syafie Mosque here Friday.
The polls this time will see about 146,000 Umno members electing the top leadership unlike previously when just over 2,000 delegates voted in the leaders. This follows amendments to Umno’s constitution.
Admitting that there were some internal problems in Umno, Muhyiddin, however, said this could be ironed out before the polls, which are scheduled for Oct 5 for Umno’s top leadership while for the Wanita, Youth and Puteri wings, their elections will be on Sept 28.
Touching on urban voters, Muhyiddin, who is also Barisan Nasional (BN) deputy chairman, said Umno members must redouble efforts to win back their hearts in the Federal Territory.
He said now that the (13th) general was over, they should not waste anytime in reaching out to urban voters to gain their support in the next general election.
He also said the pre-condition for Umno to become stronger was the fostering a close relationshiop between leaders and members, working together and maintaining solid unity more so in an urbanised setting like the Federal Territory.
“As BN deputy chairman and Umno deputy preisdent I will give full backing to see Federal Territory Umno continue to progress and achieve great things in future,” he said.
Later, Muhyiddin handed Aidilfitri contributions to representatives of mosques from around the federal capital and orphans.
Also present was Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor.
– BERNAMA
