BAGAN DATUK: Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi expressed hope that the results of the party's 189 divisions' elections today will serve as a step towards its revival.
The Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman said as the leadership that would be elected today not only involved the central level, but also state and division levels, it was necessary to move together and work as a team in facing the six states' elections.
"Whether these individuals are known or unknown, Umno is very democratic where the method to become a candidate is to register after they qualify as a candidate.
"My hope is that the decision that will be made by the 189 divisions will serve as a step for Umno revival 2.0," he said when met at the Bagan Datuk Umno Division election, here, today.
Zahid, who is also the deputy prime minister, stressed that democracy in Umno continued to flourish when several candidates offered themselves to contest despite the party being said to be experiencing a "dark" period.
The Umno elections began with the branch-level polls from Feb 1 to 26, followed by the elections for the Wanita, Youth and Puteri wings at the national level on March 11.
The party divisional delegates' meetings and committee elections, as well as contests for seats in the Umno Supreme Council, will be held simultaneously nationwide today.
Zahid also expressed hope that the elected supreme council members would be able to strengthen the party. He stressed that Umno needed to embrace digitalisation to gain the support of voters, including new ones.
"My hope is that we choose the best candidates among the best so that we don't make the wrong choice this time, even though I celebrate the difference of views and opinions, we should not differ in our views when the party makes decisions, especially big decisions.
"Now we are in the unity government and we support the concept of Malaysia Madani. We are part of the government."
He said that the compatibility between Umno and the component parties of Barisan Nasional, together with the parties supporting the unity government, began to show positive development at the national, parliamentary and state constituency levels, as well as district and locality levels. -- BERNAMA