KUALA LUMPUR: Hinting that the general election will be held soon, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan wants Umno grassroots to begin preparing for the national polls.
The party deputy president who disagreed with calls for Barisan Nasional to serve the full term, said if the coalition does so, “Umno may be finished”.
“They will use all sorts of tricks and tactics to weaken and bury us, so we are no longer seen as a threat,” he said.
“We leave it to our president (Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi) to hold any discussions.”
Mohamad also advised Ahmad Zahid to keep discussions on political cooperations hush.
“Don’t tell others about it. Let us just keep it among ourselves.”
He said there is nothing more important than strengthening the party.
“I would be lying if I say there are others who want to help us. Let’s not dream of this, as no one wants to see us rise again.
“Everyone wants to see us finished, but those who had attempted to do that saw it happening to themselves instead,” he said.
Mohamad suggested for the existing political understanding to be employed in one of the Perikatan Nasional-held states of Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah and Perlis, should polls be held.
“Let’s try an election, perhaps in Terengganu, and see what formula is used.
“Show us your sincerity. We have fulfilled our word in Negri Sembilan and want to test how far this sincerity will go,” he said.
At the Negri Sembilan polls, Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional formed an electoral understanding, resulting in them winning 25 out of 36 seats in the state assembly.
Meanwhile, Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the party will only decide after the next general election, whether to raise the membership age limit for its Puteri wing to 40.
He said while the proposal had strong support from Puteri Umno, the matter could not be considered in isolation as it would also affect Wanita Umno.
He said the matter also needed to be considered alongside preparations for the next general election, particularly if 30% of candidates were to come from women, including Puteri.
Khaled gave an assurance to both wings that Umno’s Constitution and Rules committee would work towards an acceptable solution.
