Najib: Six Umno divisions can spearhead recapture of Kedah
(The Star) – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak wants the six Umno divisions in southern Kedah to be the catalyst for Barisan Nasional’s victory in the general election.
He said the divisions of Baling, Merbok, Sik, Sungai Petani, Padang Serai as well as Kulim-Bandar Baharu formed the backbone of the party in the state.
“I chose to visit southern Kedah because this region has been our fort all this while.
“As Baling had played an important role in our country’s history, then let the voice of Baling be etched in the history of Umno and Barisan Nasional in our struggle to return Kedah back to Barisan,” he said when opening the Umno delegates conference for the six divisions here on Thursday.
He said other areas such as Alor Setar and Jerlun were equally important, stressing that the divisions should work together and fight hard to win back Kedah.
He said party members should have resolved all internal problems that by now.
“Enough is enough. It has been over four years since the last general election and they should stop pointing fingers at each other.
“We, at the top leadership, have spoken about this issue countless times and now its time for the members to fulfill their pledges of loyalty to the party.
“Let us not merely look at what the (Barisan) government had promised to do for us, but rather what we can do for the government,” he said.
The premier stressed that if all Umno members and fellow Barisan component party members voted for Barisan’s candidates in Kedah, there was no reason why the party could not win in the state.
He said party members should understand the meaning of unity and loyalty as well as put the party’s interests above all else, including personal interests.
“Umno is 66 years old while the nation will be celebrating 55 years of Independence.
“People say we should be matured as a party by now, with a lifetime of experiences.
“But, we need to further explore the knowledge of rational thinking to make wise and acceptable decisions.
“That is what maturity should mean, where leaders know the true meaning of unity and loyalty, not merely by the party’s age,” he said.
Najib advised Kedah Umno members to take the party’s defeat in the last general election as a valuable lesson to do better this time.
He said with an oath of loyalty that was earlier taken by Umno leaders from all six divisions in southern Kedah, led by Baling Umno division chief Datuk Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim earlier, he was confident southern Kedah would return to Barisan.
