All eyes are on the 66th Umno general assembly that will see a rejuvenated party rally around its President Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who will lead the party to GE13. The assembly is expected to showcase Umno’s confidence and focus on matters pertaining to the election that is barely months away.
5,447 delegates are expected this week, and the assembly begins on Tuesday with the Wanita, Youth and Puteri delegates’ conference. It will be covered by around 1,800 journalists from over 100 print and electronic media agencies, blogs and online news portals, including The Choice.
Umno supreme council member Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi said the focus would be on choosing “winnable candidates” to face the polls, in accordance with the Prime Minister’s initiative.
“We must instil a strong spirit, confidence and unity. Delegates should not use the assembly to campaign for their candidacy, but debate articulately and with solid arguments to show the rakyat that Umno can drive political transformation,” Puad said.
“It is now or never for the delegates and grassroots to form a common allegiance and express their faith in our President and Prime Minister.”
Umno delegates were likely to go on the offensive against Pakatan Rakyat and highlight the several issues faced in Pakatan-ruled states, such as corruption, Pakatan’s poor track record, and political infighting.
“If possible, we strengthen our position after the general election. It’s important for us to secure a bigger victory and to win back all the states that we lost in the 2008 general election.
“So, this general assembly is of utmost significance. Although we know that within Umno itself there are certain issues, the main focus will be how we should prepare every Umno member, including at the grassroots level, to face the election,” said Umno Deputy President Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
In comparison, there is no consensus within the Pakatan leadership, which has not yet provided a common candidate for Prime Minister, nor has it revealed a shadow cabinet and manifesto.
With Barisan Nasional having the upper hand, the General Assembly is expected to be held on a large scale that will inspire its supporters to victory in the coming polls.
Muhyiddin, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, said that there was renewed confidence among the voters that Umno was a more capable party compared to PAS and PKR, through the crises taking place in the Pakatan-ruled states.
“From my experience in politics, every time there is a general election, the Umno machinery would be busy on the ground, but this time around, they had started much earlier because the election date had not been announced yet.
“In terms of the mindset, they are also ready for it. So, the change is seen in terms of the operation and the assistance that we give out. As such, not only the Malay voters, but even the Chinese and Indian voters have seen and are ready to give their support (to us) in the coming general election,” he said.
Muhyiddin wanted Umno leaders to be more prepared in terms of mind and energy.
“We must be more aggressive than the Opposition, because this is a war in terms of the various strategies.
“There is no time for rest, we must be up and ready at all time,” he declared.
The General Assembly looks set to be a spectacular, rousing event that will rally support for Umno and help the party machinery to focus on the electoral battle that lies ahead.