KUALA LUMPUR, 18 Feb 2009: Umno Youth will stand united to face the Bukit Gantang parliamentary and Bukit Selambau state by-elections in April despite the wing holding its own polls in late March.
Umno Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said that regardless of the party polls, importance and priority would be given to the party’s performance in the two by-elections, slated for 7 April. Nomination is on 29 March.
“There’s no point in holding high posts if the party is not respected by the people. So, we (Umno Youth) will move as one to ensure that our party is accepted by all,” told a news conference at the Umno headquarters here today.
Asked whether the clash in the dates for the party elections and by-elections might affect Umno’s capabilities, Hishammuddin said: “We have our own understanding.
“Campaigning is normal within the family. Within Umno, people can say anything but we have no problem giving our commitment to the party and standing united.
The Umno general assembly from 24 to 28 March will also pick the top national leaders, including the Youth, Wanita and Puteri heads.
Touching on the Youth wing’s preparation for the two by-elections, Hishammuddin said the wheels were already in motion and all the candidates vying for posts in the Youth wing had pledged their full cooperation to ensure victory for Barisan Nasional (BN) in the by-elections regardless of the outcome of the party polls.
Speaking on the BN’s chances, especially after the ruling coalition’s losses in the Permatang Pauh and Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-elections recently, he said every seat was different and they considered every election a challenge. — Bernama
abubaker says
How united the Umno Youth is is a waste of time if they still use racial issues to gain support. People no longer accept racism and fanaticism. Umno or its Youth can only get united to its like kind and its like mind only. People now are intelligent. They have more wisdom and more maturity than the people who claimed themselves as “leader” of some race.