KUALA LUMPUR, 25 Nov 2008: Umno Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said the party has to make fundamental changes and relook at its structure after the March election.
These were important to ensure disciplinary problems such as money politics could be overcome, he said.
“This issue has often been raised during party elections. To deal with it effectively, we have to look back at the party’s structure.
“I believe we will do it after the March election. This positive development must allow us to look at the party’s structure, the changes that we want to make after March,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby today.
He was commenting on the remarks by Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday that efforts to eradicate money politics in the party were a process that require political will and realistically, it could not be solved in the near term.
Hishammuddin who is Education Minister, said those who were given party posts after the March election must also be united and determined in dealing with the issue.
“Hopefully after the election we can see, especially in terms of the structure, constitution, our struggle which demand us to look back at what we have done not only in Umno but also in Barisan Nasional after the 12th general election,” he said.
On the stance by Umno Youth chief contestants Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir and Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo not to hold government posts even if they won the election, Hishammuddin said: “It is up to them.
“We always offer ourselves to serve if we are given the opportunity to serve no matter what. MCA Youth chief Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong who is also Deputy Education Minister, like it or not Wee has to accept and bear it because our objective to offer ourselves is to serve.
“If the leadership thinks we have an advantage to serve not only in the party but also in the government, why not,” he said. — Bernama
