Umno members must have faith in the party's struggle to win back the people's hearts

By Olivia Miwil - June 30, 2018 @ 3:23pm

Picture by Malai Rosmah Tuah

KOTA KINABALU: Umno members should put their faith in the party’s struggle to win back the people's hearts in the 15th general election, said former Putatan Umno division chief Datuk Seri Yahya Hussin.

Yahya, who is also former Deputy Sabah Chief Minister, said the significance of Umno in Sabah is evident when it became the government for more than 15 years in Sabah.

“However, we have to accept the fate that UMNO is the opposition and no longer in the government.

“But it does not mean that the party is irrelevant and people have to continue to put their faith in Umno’s struggle,” he said during the opening speech at Umno division meeting here today.

While the trend in political parties in the country is more towards the multi-racial concept, Yahya said Umno's struggle remain as a party that fights for the Malays, Bumiputera and Islam.

“We have to understand the ideology and only Umno members can fight for the party. Although this is a democratic country, we should not simply jump ship or else will be called as a ‘monitor lizard’,” he added.

The meeting, which was attended by 415 members, was also held for Putatan Umno division top posts election.

Yahya was not defending his position which saw his deputy Datuk Arsit Sedi take over as the new division chief uncontested.

Yahya said as Sabah Umno Secretary, the party could win the 15th general election if it becomes a constructive opposition and change its approach towards the people.