Muhyiddin: Respond quickly to accusations
“They (opposition parties) have twisted issues. Some of these accusations are lies and done rampantly. If Umno does not take an aggressive step in handling these issues, we will be seen as weak.”
KUALA LUMPUR: Respond to issues and accusations raised by opposition parties quickly and confidently, Umno deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin advised party leaders yesterday.
He said failure to defend the government’s policies and decisions would make the party and its leaders look weak.
“They (opposition parties) have twisted issues. Some of these accusations are lies and done rampantly. If Umno does not take an aggressive step in handling these issues, we will be seen as weak.”
Muhyiddin said in a recent meeting with student leaders, they found that the opposition were more active in using the online media to question and criticise government policies.
The deputy prime minister said the student leaders felt the government was slow in responding to such accusations. He said he took this feedback seriously as the youth made up a large portion of voters.
“This was the view of the youngsters. They want to see if we are brave enough to come forward and defend government policies.
“Our responsibility is to defend, clarify and inform, and not to add on to the criticism by irresponsible parties,” he said at the opening of the Federal Territories Umno convention here yesterday.
He added that leaders should also be tech-savvy since the public has turned to the Internet and blogs to get real-time updates.
Muhyiddin said voters judged the party based on how the party leaders behave, think and interact among each other and with the public.
“It is important that we not only protect the welfare of the Malays, but also other communities as this can help us improve public perception,” he said, adding that relationship with the Indian and Chinese communities, too, had to improve.
He said Umno needed a political transformation where it had to complement the government and its economic policies.
He also advised Umno divisions to forge good working relationships with Barisan Nasional component parties so that people would not think that Umno “worked on a single track”.
“We want the voters to see that we do not move on the Umno platform only, but also Barisan Nasional,” said Muhyiddin, who is also BN deputy chairman.
Later, when launching the Puteri Umno volunteer group programme at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), Muhyiddin said programmes carried out by Umno for the needy should go beyond the confines of race and religion as Malaysia is a multiracial nation.
“When people see this change in us, their perception of us will also change.”
Muhyiddin said people did not just want economic activities but also social and charity activities.
Puteri chief Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin said the rebranding of Vogue, the wing’s volunteer bureau, was to attract youngsters and also to give it a fresh image.
“Vogue will be exciting, fun and up to date with full of substance through teaching, skills and patriotism.”
