MALACCA, 12 March 2009: Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam said there have been no elements of slander and pitting against each other ahead of the Umno elections at the end of the month.
The contest for top party posts so far was healthy and conducted in the spirit of being part of a family, he said at a meeting among Umno supreme council candidates and Malacca delegates last night.
Also present at the function were Umno information chief Tan Sri Muhammad Muhd Taib, Wanita head Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz and Youth leader Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.
Muhammad said the contest this time was positive in the absence of poison pen letters and text messages bent on running down certain candidates.
This was a very good signal for Umno with the delegates giving more or less the same support to all candidates. “It shows that Umno members have become very mature, and not emotional,” he said.
Rafidah said contests were part of a democratic process and everyone should accept whatever decisions the delegates made. “We need to ensure Umno remains strong and not let any split happen,” she said. — Bernama
