Najib says Umno will not abolish wings
(Bernama) KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 29 – Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Najib Razak said today Umno will not abolish any of its wings as they are important in nurturing future leaders of the party.
"We cannot deprive them of the opportunities to show their leadership potentials.
"If they are not given the opportunities to lead, then there is no way we can develop new leaders," he told reporters after launching the Peugeot 308 car here today.
He was asked to comment on the suggestion by Umno Disciplinary Board chairman Tan Sri Tengku Ahmad Rithaudeen Tengku Ismail that the party restructure its organisation by abolishing its Puteri, Putera, Wanita and Youth wings to rid the party of money politics.
Najib said Umno's structure had been in existence for so long and in the case of Youth and Wanita wings, the two movements had existed since the party's early days.
"Both wings play crucial roles in the party. The Puteri wing was set up several years ago. This is a complete structure. If there are problems related to money politics, we should instead strengthen the enforcement.
"We should also cultivate positive values among members to reject money politics. Both aspects — enforcement and positive values – should go together," he said.
He also said that to eradicate money politics, Umno should think of ways to carry out party elections effectively.
"But a change in the structure is too drastic and will bring about major consequences. We have no plan to abolish the party's wings," he said.
Asked on Datuk Seri Tajol Rosli Ghazali's resignation as the Perak Umno liaison chairman, Najib said, he had yet to receive the resignation letter.
"We have not made any decisions … he is only thinking about resigning from the post," he said. – Bernama
