I am a true-blue party man, Ismail Sabri tells Umno members

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob (pic) said on Saturday (March 19) that he carries the Umno identity in him and will not let the party's struggle go dim.

"I carry the Umno identity in me. Who is Ismail Sabri without all of you, ladies and gentlemen," the Umno vice-president said in his winding-up speech at the Umno general assembly 2021 here on Saturday.

Ismail Sabri said he would ensure the party’s struggles continued to be championed and burn brightly.

"Whatever that is decided in the Cabinet, I will ensure Umno’s voice and views are given priority to protect the people’s interests.

"I want to state here, I am a party man! The Umno blood flows in me! My struggles are for Umno!,” he said, adding that he would not be on the stage of the party assembly as vice-president and prime minister if not for the prayers and strong support of Umno members.

The assembly is the first since Ismail Sabri took over the helm of the government comprising Barisan Nasional, Perikatan Nasional and Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) in August 2021.

"Thank you President, Deputy President, Supreme Council members and Barisan Nasional members of parliament who unanimously nominated me for Prime Minister, with the support of all the Umno state, division and branch leadership," the Bera Umno division chief said.

Ismail Sabri said since Barisan returned to leading the government, there had been many achievements, adding that all matters decided at the party’s Supreme Council meeting on Aug 27 last year had been implemented with the support of Umno cabinet ministers.

He said this included cross-party cooperation and alliances besides giving focus on efforts to contain Covid-19, including the implementation of the Covid-19 National Immunisation Programme for Children (PICKids).

The prime minister said there was no compulsion to receive booster doses for adults and children, although the government encouraged them to ensure Keluarga Malaysia (Malaysian families) were protected.

Besides this, Ismail Sabri said the interim report pertaining to the investigation on former Attorney-General Tan Sri Tommy Thomas’s memoir would be presented next month and action would be taken if there was an abuse of power and conspiracies.

On Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim’s death, the prime minister said although investigations were ongoing, the government had made a RM1.5mil ex-gratia payment to the late fireman’s family on Nov 29, which he added was proof of Umno’s efforts to protect the interests of the people.

In addition, Ismail Sabri said the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to investigate issues related to Lembaga Tabung Haji was expected to conclude at the end of July.

Foreign students in Malaysia were also required to learn Bahasa Melayu, he added, saying it was part of efforts to turn the language into South East Asia's second language.

At one juncture of his speech, when touching on poverty, the prime minister could not contain his sadness and held back his tears.

"I am the child of a rubber tapper. I have experienced and understand what are difficulties, and this why poverty eradication is a priority for me," he said.

As such, the prime minister promised to ensure Umno’s agenda to empower Bumiputeras was successfully carried out.

"As long as I am alive, I will champion the plight of the Malays and Bumiputeras," Ismail Sabri said.