KUALA LUMPUR: Umno must shift its priority to focus on itself before the party can better instil the public’s confidence.
Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said the party has to focus on fortifying its confidence within to remain united.
“Before the public can ‘miss’ Umno, the Umno member should miss the party first.
“If we do not truly ‘miss’ each other, then we are unable to portray ourselves as a party that can strengthen itself from within.
"How would outsiders see us then?” he said when met at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur, after the closed-door Umno presidential briefing here, on Wednesday (Jan 14).
Johari was commenting on talks about the voters missing 'the real Umno'.
Meanwhile, he also shared that the Umno presidential briefing touched on political unity and stability.
He said that party president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi called for unity as the party could not afford to have different views among its members, as it is not as strong as it used to be.
“We can all benefit from the economic development that can be achieved through political stability,” he said.
Johari added that the party should wait for the next general election before attempting to properly gauge the Malay voters.
Recently, Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh had made outspoken remarks on the party's direction.
He previously hinted at stepping aside from his post after his call for Umno to withdraw from the unity government drew a negative reaction from the Umno president.
