KUALA LUMPUR: The upcoming Umno Youth special convention, scheduled for Jan 3, is unlikely to affect the stability of the unity government, said the party’s Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir.
“I am of the view that the question of Umno‘s position within the unity government, which is said to be deliberated at the upcoming convention, should not be framed as an ultimatum or treated as a black-and-white issue.
“I suppose Umno Youth also understands that this matter cannot be managed emotionally or driven by short-term sentiments,” he said when contacted.
Zambry, who is also Barisan Nasional secretary-general, was responding to a question on whether the Umno Youth special convention would affect the stability of the unity government.
The Higher Education Minister added that he believes the Youth wing appreciates the need for a comprehensive and balanced assessment, taking into account multiple considerations — including the strategic interests of the party, national stability, the mandate of the people, overall public sentiment and the party’s current role as a component of the unity government.
“Any subsequent course of action, if necessary, will ultimately be referred to the Umno Supreme Council as the party’s highest decision-making body. In this regard, I do not foresee any immediate instability arising from the convention.”
Yesterday, the party’s Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh said that the wing will hold a special convention to discuss the party’s direction and its role in the unity government.
The convention, titled “Umno’s direction: Stay or leave the unity government”, was called following the failure of Puchong Member of Parliament Yeo Bee Yin to apologise as previously demanded by Selangor Umno Youth within 24 hours, an outcome that disappointed the party grassroots.
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