KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Umno members must work as one team without splitting into factions, says its head Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin in gearing up for the state election.
He urged party members not to break up into a "Team A or Team B" situation as unity was needed to win the election.
"We must implement a culture of teamwork... the leadership of Umno at all levels must be united and work hand in hand and avoid any friction.
"If this (Team A and Team B scenario) happens, we will not have strength (to win)... if we want to win, do the work," he told division leaders during the Sabah Umno leadership council meeting here on Monday (Jan 15).
Bung Moktar, who is Sabah Barisan Nasional chairman, also said party leaders must adopt new strategies to attract both urban and rural voters.
"Umno leaders need to re-examine what needs to be done to curb the trend of voter rejection," he said.
He also told leaders to focus on the greater community in their respective areas, not just on their members.
"Apart from Umno's staunch supporters, there are groups who do not belong to the party," he said, urging Umno leaders to approach and work closely with these groups.
These include youth associations, single mothers' associations, government pensioners' associations and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), he added.
"We need to change our approach. If we help (these groups) with their needs, they will support us," he said, adding that Umno needed to attract more voters to support the party's cause.
