Puteri UMNO to leave it to delegates to choose vice-presidential candidates

Its chief Mas Emieyati Shamsuddin said the trio who would be selected on Saturday must be able to work together, continue the party's struggle and contribute to strengthen the party.

"The six candidates (vice-president) are equally good, but I cannot represent them (Puteri UMNO) by saying whom they want (to become vice-presidents). I leave it to the delegates because I believe they can choose wisely," she said.

She said this in a press conference after visiting the Alor Gajah branch of the Anti Drug Agency and Alor Gajah 1Malaysia Cure and Care Clinic today.

On Saturday six candidates would be vying for the UMNO vice-president posts.

They were the three incumbents Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein and Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal. The others were Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Mukhriz Tun Mahathir, former Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam and former Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad.

Meanwhile, Mas Emieyati said it was very important that all UMNO members remained open and not turn the party into an exclusive club.

"UMNO is not only for the people in UMNO. This party has an important role to serve the people. More programmes to help the people must be held to ensure UMNO is an inclusive and not an exclusive party," she said.

She said this would strengthen the faith of the people in UMNO and make it easier to attract more people especially the young to join the party to ensure UMNO's relevance and survival.

Last night, Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) Editor-in-chief Datuk Zulkifli Salleh, in the TV3 Soal Jawab programme, said there were still those who saw UMNO as being exclusive in nature.

He also said the existence of an UMNO branch must be seen as capable of serving the local communities and when UMNO overly pursued other things beside service to society, the society would feel alienated.