KUALA LUMPUR: Umno must not allow any political cooperation to erode its voice or standing, Wanita Umno chief Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad says, in outlining five principles to guide the party in any partnership.
She said Umno understood the need for cooperation and compromise, particularly for political stability, but must not give in to the point that others perceive it as having no principles of its own.
"Wanita Umno understands what it means to work with others. We also understand the meaning of compromise.
"But we also know that if we give in too much, eventually people will assume that we have no principles of our own.
"We can sit at the same table. But we must not allow our seat and our voice to become smaller and smaller," she said in her policy speech at the Wanita Umno assembly at the World Trade Centre here on Thursday (Sept 10).
The five principles are not to sacrifice the party’s core struggle, its dignity, national stability, the country’s multiracial society, or the voice of the grassroots.
"We can work with anyone. But we must know who we are.
"Cooperation must not erode our identity. At the same time, our identity must not become an excuse to reject cooperation. We must be wise enough to protect both," she said.
Noraini added that Umno should not feel compelled to apologise for championing issues concerning the Malays and Islam.
"When we want to talk about the Malays, we fear people will say we are being too Malay. When we want to talk about Islam, we fear being misunderstood.
"When we want to defend Umno, we fear being accused of not considering the feelings of our political allies.
"Since when have we had to apologise for being Umno?" she said to applause from the delegates.
Noraini said Umno was founded on the awareness among the Malays of the need to defend the future of their religion, race and country.
"That is why Umno is not a party created for a particular political season. Umno was born because a people did not want to lose the right to determine their own future," she said.
