Politics

GE15: Big-headed Umno members should know their place, says Zahid

KUALA LUMPUR: Election candidates chosen by Umno must put the party's interests above their own.

President Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said there was no place in the party for leaders who were "big-headed" or too proud over their position.

He said all party members and leaders must know their place as their positions only came because of the party.

"Some of them (leaders) only realised this when Parliament was dissolved. They themselves belong to the party and all they have, including their positions they enjoy, are because they are Umno members.

"These positions are not because they are members of Bersatu, Pas or other parties," he said in a statement on Facebook here today.

He said this five days ahead of the party's announcement of their candidates' list.

He said the party needs wakil rakyat who were resolute, and those who could not be swayed by external forces. He warned party members against manipulating others to go against the party's leadership.

"Umno needs to have stability in itself to ensure there are no stray voices who criticise the party after the 15th General Election."

Zahid said the task ahead for Umno's top five party leaders was challenging. He said the selection of candidates was crucial for the party's future and its performance in the general election.

"Godwilling, the Top Five Umno leaders will choose candidates who have a high level of discipline and are not big-headed. (They have to choose) those who are brave in defending Umno from being disparaged as well as those who do not raise rogue opinions against the leadership and have the support of the grassroots."

There has been a big guessing game in relation to big names and where they will contest, including former Rembau member of parliament Khairy Jamaluddin.

Khairy had earlier confirmed that he was making way for Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan to contest in the parliamentary seat. Mohamad is the Rembau Umno division chief.

In recent weeks, the caretaker Health Minister had claimed that he still was not aware where Barisan Nasional leadership wanted him to contest.

Most recently, Khairy said it was also likely he will contest in a seat, which was won by the opposition.

This has been widely speculated to be Tampin where Pakatan Harapan's Hasan Baharom had won in GE14.

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