2016 UMNO general assembly crucial to face GE14

The 2016 UMNO General Assembly, scheduled tomorrow at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC), here, becomes the most important platform for the largest Malay-based political party to strengthen solidarity and to plan strategies to face the 14th General Election (GE14).

The assembly, which will conclude on Dec 3 and said to be the last before the upcoming general election, will be attended by 5,732 delegates who would be looking forward to the political direction to be taken by UMNO.

The general assembly of the Barisan Nasional's (BN) backbone is expected to tackle whatever problems that may arise to ensure that the party remained in power.

The focus to face GE14 will certainly become the main topic expected to be raised by the respective spokesmen debating at the assembly.

Two top UMNO leaders namely, vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor expected that efforts to ensure UMNO's victory in the coming poll would be the main issues.

Tengku Adnan said, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi would officiate the simultaneous opening of the three party's wings namely, Wanita, Pemuda and Puteri movements.

He said the assembly this time would also be attended by 300 students of local universities, 78 delagates from Overseas UMNO Club and 44 observers representing 12 political parties from 10 countries.

A total of 1,193 media personnel including those from three international agencies will cover the political gathering.

All together, 681 motions from 191 UMNO divisions were received.

-- BERNAMA