KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has been invited as guest of honour at the coming 2023 Umno general assembly.
Umno secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said the party had also invited 19 other leaders from component parties in the unity government to attend the assembly from June 7 to 10.
“As the guest of honour, the Prime Minister will not deliver a speech.
“Party president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi will deliver his policy speech at the assembly as usual,” he told a press conference at Menara Dato’ Onn at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
Party matters: Asyraf (second from left) together with Umno working secretary Datuk Mohd Sumali Reduan (left) and the Youth and Wanita secretaries at Menara Dato’ Onn. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star
This is the first Umno assembly Anwar will attend since taking office under the unity government.
During the party’s 2022 general assembly in January, no political parties other than Barisan Nasional components and Friends of Barisan were invited.
The then secretary-general, Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan, said it was because Umno wanted to resolve internal matters related to the party and Barisan relating to their performance in the 15th General Election.
At the same press conference, Asyraf urged Umno members to put a stop to playing the blame game, especially against other leaders in the unity government.
He said there was no point for Umno leaders to launch attacks on their peers in the administration or shoot their own feet to please certain segments of society.“We have to understand that when we formed the government, it was a collective responsibility.
“It has never been a one-man show so we have to put a stop to the blame game,” he said.
On Wednesday, Umno supreme council member Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi wrote on Facebook that Anwar had to dispel rumours that there would be a Cabinet reshuffle because of Rafizi Ramli’s “poor performance” as the Economy Minister.
