Ahmad Bashah to explain changes in Kedah UMNO to grassroots

Ahmad Bashah who is also Kedah Menteri Besar said he and his deputy Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid would give a detailed explanation to all UMNO leaders and grassroots members, in an effort to restore their confidence in the party.

He said the changes that had taken place in Kedah were at the request of 14 UMNO Division Heads as well as the state Wanita, Youth and Puteri wings chiefs as part of the party's preparation to face the next general election.

"We will go down to the ground to explain why there is a need for a change of the state UMNO leadership. We know that the recent changes have sparked anger among the party members, especially from the UMNO Youth.

"Maybe it will take more than a month to solve this problem and I was made to understand that some UMNO chiefs have taken an approach to explain the issue to members in their respective areas," he told reporters at his office in Wisma Darul Aman here on Thursday.

Ahmad Bashah said he would hold meetings with all UMNO Division Heads in the near future to discuss and set the schedule for his visit.

"I was also made to understand that many of the party members have already understood and accepted the decision made by the UMNO leadership," he said.

He also expressed confidence that his working cooperation with Mahdzir would bring positive changes to the state UMNO based on their previous experience when holding top posts in the party.

"When Mahdzir was the Kedah Umno chief, I was the state party secretary. This is the trust given by the party president (Datuk Seri Najib Razak) who wanted to ensure that the state UMNO and BN machinery are ready to face the general election," he said.

On the new state Executive Committee (Exco) line-up, Ahmad Bashah said he was waiting for the office of the Sultan of Kedah to fix the date for him to present the proposed line-up to the Kedah Regency Council.