Attack, Zahid tells Umno members

Umno vice president and Home Minister calls on Umno members not to be quiet but attack the opposition based on facts

(Bernama) – Umno members and leaders should not remain quiet and are instead urged to attack based on facts the perception spread by the opposition that Umno and the Barisan Nasional (BN) are no longer the relevant holder of power.

Umno vice-president Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the culture of hatred in Umno and the BN had been instilled by the opposition since the 2008 general election with their slogans “ABU” (‘Asal Bukan Umno’ or As Long As It’s Not Umno) and “ABN” (‘Asal Bukan BN’ or As Long As It’s Not BN).

“When such hatred has been instilled for so long, we must be courageous to counter them by making attacks which are not personal in nature but based on facts to correct the perception that we are considered wrong with the hatred instilled in the voters,” he said at a charity gathering with the leaders at Dewan Tun Ali, Bukit Katil, here last night.

The gathering organised by the Melaka Umno Veterans Council was attended by more than 1,000 members including Melaka Chief Minister Idris Haron and Kedah Menteri Besar Mukhriz Tun Dr Mahathir.

According to Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Home Minister, there were party members and leaders who kept quiet because of their weak commitment and determination to counter the opposition and, in fact, some had even “added on” to the differences in opinion.

“With the erosion of power at the national level and some of the states, we are now facing a test in the psychological warfare. The best defence is for us to launch an attack on the opposition,” he added.