KOTA KINABALU, March 5 – Solidarity among UMNO members is still strong although there are several former leaders who are conspiring with the opposition to bring down the top party leadership, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
He said UMNO members continued to give their strong support to the leadership of party president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak although there was a ‘public declaration’ (deklarasi rakyat) made by several former UMNO and Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders with the opposition leaders yesterday.
“Umno and BN reject the conspiracy. The people had never imagined that such a drastic move would be taken by the former leaders, especially a statesman who tries to influence the people to change the national leadership lineup that had been selected through the general election. It (the public declaration) is an illogical move and is not based on the truth,” he told reporters after attending a special meeting with the Sabah UMNO leadership lineup at the Sabah UMNO Building, here today.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also a vice-president of UMNO, said the move to topple the government illegally that transpired at the public declaration was more an aspiration of a certain party who had once held the top party post and led the BN component parties.
“The move clearly showed it has its own agenda which is not difficult for the public to interpret. As such, Ahmad Zahid called on all members of UMNO and the BN component parties to remain united in strengthening unity in the coalition. In such a situation, we at the federal and state levels, especially at the grassroots level must be determined to strengthen party solidarity,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman, who is also the Sabah UMNO Liaison head, said the Sabah UMNO would continue to support the top party leadership. He said they will continue to support and ensure that Sabah UMNO remained strong to face whatever challenges that lie ahead and what is important for Sabah UMNO is to continue to strengthen the party machinery to face whatever challenges.
