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SEREMBAN – Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has urged Umno leaders not to entertain any statement by any individual contrary to the official stance of the parties making up the unity government.
He said that if Umno leaders easily react to any negative statement, it would be portrayed as a major problem even though it was not the party’s stance.
“I have told them that there should be no reaction or reply (to the negative statement) from our side because if an issue is raised and we react, it looks as if it is a big problem, when in fact it is not,” said the Umno president.
“This is because it is not a policy or stance, let alone a decision of the leadership of any party (in the government), our position is (based on) the negotiations between Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Harapan (PH)... let us move forward.”
Zahid was speaking to reporters after addressing the Negri Sembilan Umno machinery in a ceremony that was also attended by the party’s deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan and state Umno chief Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias.
He was commenting on the statement by DAP’s Tony Pua yesterday where he called BN a “corrupt” coalition and hoped that PH would be able to form its own government without involving Umno and BN in the next general election.
Zahid also expressed gratitude to DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke who confirmed that the statement made by Pua was in his individual capacity and did not represent the party’s leadership.
Meanwhile, on seat distribution for the coming Negri Sembilan polls, Zahid said BN had requested an additional two seats from the 16 won by the coalition previously.
On today’s meeting, he said the party had decided to use a new campaign approach for the nearing state polls.
“During (the last general election), our organisation was already quite structured, but maybe our approach needs to be improved, so now is the right time for us to improve the election machinery,” he said. – Bernama, June 24, 2023