KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Umno needs to accept the current political dynamics, which demand that the party establish cooperation outside Barisan Nasional.
The Umno president, in his briefing to party delegates at the Umno general assembly, spoke at length about its preparations for the 16th General Election, due next year.
A delegate who attended the closed-door session said Zahid spoke about how Umno and Barisan Nasional would inevitably contest the election on their own.
“The president did not detail the strategy on its collaboration with others, including Pakatan Harapan or Perikatan Nasional. However, the strategy (to go solo) is to enable Umno to possibly become the dominant party after the general election,” th e delegate said.
He also stressed the need for Umno to play its cards right with both friends and foes to achieve this aim.
Umno and BN failed to emerge as the dominant party in the 15th General Election after winning only 30 parliamentary seats. Pas had taken over the mantle by winning 43 seats, followed by DAP with 42.
Another delegate said the president also elaborated on the need for the party to be more open in getting those who were sacked or had left back into its fold.
[[nid:1357003]]
“He wanted us to remain open to the idea of embracing back former Umno leaders who are now with the opposition. He admitted to us that some of them (former Umno leaders) had met him and voiced their intention to return (to Umno).
“However, the president made it clear that whatever decision (on these leaders) must get the mandate and approval from all Umno delegates attending this assembly. We will just have to wait until Saturday to see how this unravels.”
The briefing, which lasted more than an hour, was attended by the top five leaders from the party ‘s 191 divisions nationwide.
The assembly begins yesterday with meetings of the wings’ delegate s.
The delegates said they were also enlightened on the party’s stand on the demands for Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) to be recognised.
He said the president was unequivocal that the UEC would never be recognised until it met the condition that those with this certification obtained distinctions in Bahasa Melayu and History in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examination.
“The president also stressed that those conducting UEC must ensure that the History syllabus follows what is sanctioned by the Education Ministry.”
Another topic broached by the president in his briefing to the delegates was Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
Zahid, said a delegate, will announce the party’s next move in its efforts to see their former president freed, in his policy speech tomorrow.
Najib, who is former prime minister, was sentenced to 15 ye ar s’ jail in December last year after being convicted in the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) corruption case, which involved the misappropriation of billions of ringgit from the sovereign wealth fund.
The High Court’s ruling adds to a prison term he is already serving from a separate SRC International Sdn Bhd corruption convic tion.
He was initially sentenced to 12 ye ar s’ jail, but it was later halved after receiving a royal pardon.
Earlier this month, his legal team filed an appeal against the cour t’s dismissal of his bid to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
