KOTA KINABALU, Aug 12- Minister of Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government and Secretary of Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan has confirmed that he would contest a post in the Umno Supreme Council in October.
“After a thorough and careful consideration and with much humility and modesty, I hereby announce my intention to contest a Supreme Council seat in the upcoming Umno General Assembly,” he said in a statement here Sunday.
Abdul Rahman said he believed that the time had come for him to take that big step and be counted.
“Each of us Umno members has seen the party grow from its humble beginnings to what it is today – the strongest party in Malaysia’s history and undoubtedly one of the most successful democratic political parties in the world.
“Of course, each of us looks at the party from different perspectives, depending on what we have contributed and what we have accomplished in the last 67 years. Whatever the perspective may be, neither friend nor foe can deny that this Grand Old Party has provided the political stability and economic achievement for Malaysia,” he said.
He said the achievement of Umno thus far was remarkable and “I believe the future must be anchored on new ideas and new approaches”.
“The dynamics of Malaysian politics has changed and along with it came new and unique challenges which require big bold ideas to overcome them.
“The voting pattern in the last two general elections has reaffirmed that these new and unique challenges are already here, now and present.
“Lest we forget, Umno has faced greater challenges before and each time it has come out stronger and wiser. I have no slightest doubt that this time around, it will be able to do the exact same thing,” he added.
Abdul Rahman said he was not doing (contesting) it merely to fill a position but was determined to ensure that Umno continued to remain as the obvious and preferred choice of the electorate, especially the younger generation who made up the majority.
“Hence, my previous experience as the co-founder of the Umno Club when I was a student leader abroad, former divisional youth chief and former Umno Youth national secretary gives me the unique position to help the party win over this crucial and important block of support of the young people,” he said.
He said that as the secretary of Sabah BN and Member of Parliament for Kota Belud, a seat in the Supreme Council would allow him to better articulate Umno’s aspiration and vision to the people at large.
“Last but not least, Sabah Umno is growing stronger, bigger and inclusive year by year and being a politician from Sabah, it would be an honour to serve the party and the nation,” he said.
– BERNAMA
