Don’t let infighting destroy Umno’s team spirit, cautions PM

Traditional show: Najib and Mukhriz (in red) watching a silat performance at the TH Hotel and Convention Centre in Alor Setar.

ALOR SETAR: Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has called on party members to get rid of troublemakers (jemuan) who cause disunity and internal fighting.

Without such troublemakers, the Prime Minister said Umno and Barisan Nasional could retain Kedah in the next general election.

“Sometimes, people on the ground become batu ronson (instigators), tukang kipas (apple polishers) and maybe also jemuan.

“They (jemuan) are worse than the tukang kipas as they try to pit us against each other and threaten Umno’s unity,” he said in his opening speech during the two-day Kedah Umno convention here yesterday.

Drawing laughter from the audience with his quips, Najib reminded members that the real challenge was not to win elections but to retain the state.

He called on the party leaders to study all the factors that had contributed to Barisan’s success in wrestling Kedah back from PAS in the last general election after losing the state in 2008.

“One of the pulling factors was, of course, our unity and team spirit. We must reduce our internal problems and not cut each other down until two factions exist within a division,” he said, adding that members should put their self-interests aside.

“As Prime Minister and party president, I will always try my best for Umno and for all of us,” he pledged.

Also present were Kedah Mentri Besar and state Umno chairman Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir and state deputy Umno chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipa.