RAWANG, Aug 24 – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak called on Umno members specifically in Selangor to rise up with “fire in the belly” to restore the confidence of the people in the party.
He said the time for disappointment in failing to achieve the mandate of the people in the 13th General Election (GE13) in Selangor was over.
Instead, he urged Umno members to admit errors and oversight in GE13 and use it as lessoan not to repeat the same in the 14th General Election (GE14).
“We must ask ourselves what were the weaknesses, mistakes or actions and decisions that caused Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) not to achieve its objective (of wresting Selangor back from the opposition),” he said.
Najib said this at an Aidilfitri open house with the people of Selangor at the National Craft Institute here Friday, which was also attended by Selangor Federal Action Council chairman and Selangor Umno chief Datuk Seri Noh Omar.
Najib also called on Selangor Umno members to close ranks and not despair as Selangor could be back in the BN’s hands in GE14.
“The turning point to the recovery of Selangor Umno and our success in the future is loyalty to the party, consensus and unity, which we must safeguard all the time.
“We have to do a post-mortem that is so critical and honest, we must be willing to peel and pore through everything that has happened, and together exchange our views,” he said.
Najib said although he was no longer Selangor Umno liaison committee chairman, he would help the Umno leadership to retake the state for Umno and the BN.
“I want to apologise for the mistakes I made while I was the chairman, I hope cooperation to me will continue. Work with commitment, show a serious attitude, do not miss assembly sittings, get close to the people, if we practice humility and are friendly to people, the opportunity to return to power of course will be better,” he said.
Najib said he also hoped that Selangor Umno members would make informed decisions on party elections at the state level.
“Do not do anything that can weaken the party, choose the best leaders possible, we need a mix of old and new faces, leadership talent that we can mould for the future,” he said.
– BERNAMA
