KULIM: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today urged Umno members to rally behind Datuk Seri Najib Razak and support all his efforts in nation building.
He said the Prime Minister and Umno president should not be left to fight his battle alone.
Zahid said Najib had implemented numerous transformation initiatives in various fields to bring the country to greater heights.
“However, all the good he has done for the country and her people has been denied by the opposition. As such, we should not leave the prime minister to fight his battle alone.
“We must rally behind him and stand tall together with him in whatever he does for the good of the people, including all Umno members nationwide,” he said when opening the Umno Kulim/Bandar Baharu division meeting here.
Zahid said rallying behind Najib would show the opposition that Umno and Barisan Nasional were still very much relevant to the people.
He also urged Umno members to reject former party leaders who have since abandoned the party.
“We are constantly attacked by a (former) leader whom we used to glorify as the main driving force of the county. It is our responsibility now to tell the people that this person is no longer relevant in the country’s political scene.
“As such, we must come together to support (Najib) and show the people that Umno and Barisan Nasional are still needed by the people,” he said.
Even though Zahid did not mention names, it is understood he was referring to Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Zahid also touched on the riot at the Nothing To Hide 2.0 forum held in Shah Alam recently.
“There are allegations that the riot was the work of Umno. I am not willing to see Umno being blamed for this. Even though there are differences in our beliefs, we will never interfere in any democratic process,” he said, adding that enough was enough.
At the meeting, Zahid also announced a RM500,000 allocation to rebuild the Maktab Mahmud religious school in Serdang.
He also said that he would seek Najib’s help to expedite the construction of a hospital in Serdang, here, and the expansion of the main trunk road.
Also present were Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah, Umno Kulim/Bandar Baharu division chief Datuk Abdul Aziz Sheikh Fadzir, Umno supreme council members Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim, Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim and Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican and Umno Welfare Bureau chairman Datuk Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah.