KUALA LUMPUR: Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid tonight unveiled a seven-point manifesto to help the party gear up for the upcoming 14th General Election, which has been dubbed the “mother of all elections.
Zahid, who is also carrying out the responsibilities of the deputy president, said the manifesto would provide Umno with the reasoning and basis for the party’s actions in facing GE14, which must be held by August next year.
“These (points) are the manifestations of our pledge to the people. I believe these seven points will forever become our guide and belief,” he said when opening the annual general assemblies of Umno Youth, Wanita and Puteri Umno at the Putra World Trade Centre here tonight.
The first point, he said, required Umno to remain prestigious by practising political inclusiveness and setting aside differences in times of need.
“When the people were hit by the floods (in Penang), we set aside all political differences.
“The moment I was contacted (by Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng) at 3.30 in the morning and begged to help the flood victims, I set aside everything. Anyone who is beset by a disaster or difficulty will always receive help from Barisan Nasional.”
He also said unlike the opposition parties, Umno was a well-equipped and structured party that complied with the law.
“There are opposition parties that refuse to observe the provisions outlined by regulations and laws. Even without holding branch meetings, high-level meetings are abruptly held. The constitution of the party is not observed either.
“They name their wings as they please. Their administration is self-serving,” said Zahid, who was obviously referring to Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM).
Without mentioning PPBM, Zahid said its president was powerless and its chairman made decisions at his own whims and fancies.
Former Umno deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is currently PPBM president and former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is its chairman.
“Our previous leaders are now the political shamans out to crush Umno. In the past, these were the people who practised chaotic politics.”
On the economy, Zahid said the country experienced rapid growth thanks to the various policies implemented by Umno’s existing leadership and party president Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
“This is ‘Najibnomics’, an approach that was implemented despite having to sacrifice political mileage for the sake of stability of the nation’s economy.”
On education, Zahid mooted the idea of establishing an Education Commission to develop a new breed of Malaysians who possessed creative and lateral thinking skills.
Zahid, who is also Home Minister, said Umno must realise that national security and public order are the keys to political stability.
“We have to promote the agenda of socialising the police and policing the society in order to achieve zero crime,” he told the delegates.
On the fifth point, Zahid said Malaysia needed to take the lead in solving global problems, including the ongoing Rohingya crisis in Myanmar.
He also issued a stern warning to individuals who incited the people with the slogans “Sabah for Sabah” and “Sarawak for Sarawak”.
“This is against the Federal Constitution. I want to remind them that this is a very serious crime and they can be severely punished. Nobody is above the law.”
The sixth and seventh points, he said, required the Malays to remain loyal to their leaders and to uphold the sanctity of Islam.