Hishammuddin: BN must face general election, no delay
“We have no choice. We have to be ready, how long can we give the excuse that we are not ready? How long can we delay the election and say that we are still saddled with problems that we had to face during the rehabilitation before?” he asked.
Bernama
(Bernama) BANGI, July 4 — Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said today the time has come for the Barisan Nasional (BN), particularly Umno, to prove that their past weaknesses and mistakes have been successfully overcome.
As such, the BN and all its component parties must now be prepared to face the 13th general election without dilly-dallying anymore, he said.
He said cliché and petty excuses which were frequently used before could no longer be cited to support reasons for ‘running away’ from contesting in the election.
Hishammuddin said amendments to the (party) constitution and a comprehensive transformation in Umno were drastic measures taken to rebuild the party’s strength, thus enabling Umno to emerge as the first BN component party to take the bold move.
“We have no choice. We have to be ready, how long can we give the excuse that we are not ready? How long can we delay the election and say that we are still saddled with problems that we had to face during the rehabilitation before?” he asked.
Hishammuddin, who is also the Home Minister, said this when referring to a statement by another Umno vice-president, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who will present a motion to hand over the chairmanship of the State Umno Liaison Bodies in five states to the party leadership in the states concerned.
This was because Umno’s position in the five states, namely Selangor, Terengganu, Penang, Kedah, and the Federal Territory had become strong again, according to Ahmad Zahid.
When asked whether he was ready to relinquish the post of chairman of the Terengganu Umno Liaison Body to the Menteri Besar, Datuk Ahmad Said, Hishammuddin said this aspect would eventually be determined the party members.
