Thesun 2009-10-14 Page01 Umno Party For All Najib

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No. 4864 PP 2644/12/2009 (023092)

Wednesday October 14, 2009

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No need for outsiders to intervene, says Liow

Caring ...

Najib and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor wave at the launch of Skuad Sayang (Care Squad) at Putra World Trade Centre yesterday. They are flanked by Deputy Prime Minister and Umno deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Wanita Umno head Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil

by Giam Say Khoon [email protected]

UTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak said yesterday the time has come for Umno to be the main political party to take charge of the welfare and well-being of not only the Malays and bumiputras but of all Malaysians. The prime minister said that while representing the interests of the Malays and bumiputras, Umno had to change with the times to also look after the interests of the other races. This was in line with the 1Malaysia concept of “People First, Performance Now” which was gaining positive acceptance from all the races, he said. “I think we have come to a stage where Umno is seen as a party which looks after the welfare and well-being of all Malaysians,” Najib, who is also the Umno president, said in an interview with Bernama here. Although Umno was a party of the Malays and bumiputras, it should be allowed to take charge of the interests of all the people, he said. Najib offered the reply when asked of the message and image which Umno wanted to bring to the party’s general assembly and special general assembly to amend its constitution, to be held over two days from tomorrow. However, he stressed that this did not mean Umno would open its doors to all the races right now, and added that it would be left to the members to determine that some time in the future when they were ready to do so. He said Umno had to put forward the openness in its approach to take care of the interests of its members and the people as a whole in undergoing the process of renewal. “It does not mean that we concen-

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Umno party for all: Najib trate on our members only, though our members are important, but we must have the capacity and wisdom to expand what we can do in terms of delivering our message and fulfilling all the aspirations and resolving the problems of the people as a whole,” he said. Najib said this was why he emphasised “people first” because the people would support the Barisan Nasional (BN) government if they

were a satisfied lot. He said the massive BN victory in the Bagan Pinang state by-election on Sunday was a crucial point in the process to restore the spirit of Umno members. However, he reminded party members the victory did not mean that everything was back to normal because “one swallow does not make a summer”. “Umno should strive harder

and in a more organised manner to achieve bigger victories. We still have bigger responsibilities and duties which we have to discharge with full commitment and dedication,” he said. “Only then can we assume that Umno is on a strong and solid foundation.” In this connection, he said,

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PETALING JAYA: MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai says the party does not need any outsider to intervene in its internal crisis and that it has the capability to deal with the problem itself. He said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak had yet to ask about the MCA crisis. “I think the prime minister respects MCA and has full confidence in us. The party needs to solve the problem itself. We know we have the capability to solve the problem without the intervention of any quarter,” he told reporters after launching GlaxoSmithKline’s (GSK) Global Information Technology Centre yesterday, “He (Najib) wants MCA to be strong and able to solve the problem fast and we promise we will do it as soon as possible to ensure the party is strong again to help Barisan Nasional.” On Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek’s call for fresh party elections, Liow urged members to be calm and “we have to abide by the party constitution to resolve our present situation”. “If there is any vacancy, the central committee (CC) must convene and decide on the direction of the party,” he said. On theSun’s report yesterday that he, vice-president Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha and several other central leaders had had a meeting on Sunday to discuss the future leadership, Liow did not admit nor deny the meeting took place. Meanwhile, party president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat said in his blog the 60-year-old party is capable of solving its own problems through its own internal mechanism. Saying the party is now at a crossroads, he also said he will do what needs to be done in the best interest of the party. He said the crisis in MCA is typical of any organisation that calls for change and reforms, particularly the eradication of unacceptable and decadent practices. “We can either change or carry on at our own peril. We have to take stock of what has happened and learn our past lessons. Ultimately, we hope the party will emerge wiser and more mature.”

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