Dr Mahathir: Umno and government must ‘walk the talk’
Written by Chan Kok Leong, The Edge
While lauding Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s first policy speech during the party’s 2009 General Assembly today, the party’s former chief Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad warned that Umno and the government must now “walk the talk” because the country would be watching.
“It is relatively easy to make speeches and make promises but, after this, people will be watching whether or not you can deliver and walk the talk.
“Not only Umno members, but the whole country will be watching. The government and Umno must deliver,” Mahathir told a press conference here after Najib’s speech.
Najib had urged Umno to move towards the middle ground and said the party must be seen as a party that defends people of all races.
Najib also said Umno was respected by “friends and foes alike” due to the support it receives from Malays and bumiputeras, and reminded delegates that Umno’s political strength depended on the party’s ability to meet the needs of its members.
Hailing the speech as “bersemangat [rousing]”, Mahathir said Najib was aware of the problems faced by the party and was now taking steps to “restore” Umno and bring the party and the rakyat closer.
Asked if there was enough time to reform Umno, Mahathir said “time is very short but it can be done”. He added that the party needs to find out why people are unhappy with the party.
“Political struggles can never be completed… It is a continuous struggle, there are new challenges, new needs and new environments. All these need to be taken into account,” he said.
When asked, Mahathir said he was “not too sure” if money politics can be gotten rid of but efforts to amend Umno’s constitution would make the party “a little bit more democratic”.
“Money politics. I know these people. They will try but I hope they will stop making use of money to go places,” he said.
Umno delegates today passed seven resolutions to amend the party’s constitution as Umno seeks to make its party more inclusive, democratic and reduce money politics during party polls.
