PAU2016: PM Najib makes clarion call for unity, war cry for GE14

The 2016 UMNO General Assembly ended today with its president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak making a clarion call for party members to focus on the 14th General Election which is to be held soon instead of the party's poll.

"If we look at the spirit of our struggle, we have one determination, once we have resolved the UMNO's internal issues, (now) we should be ready to face the GE14, not the UMNO's election," he said in his winding up speech at the conclusion of the 2016 UMNO General Assembly at the Dewan Merdeka, Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC), here today.

The BN's mandate will end in June 2018, while the last UMNO election was held in October 2013.

The party election which was scheduled for this year was postponed by 18 months.

Datuk Seri Najib also described this year’s party general assembly as the best for him as he had a leadership lineup that was compatible with him.

He said the top UMNO leadership lineup currently was solid, with a strong stand, Wala' as well as commitment.

"This is the UMNO leadership team who will go down on the ground to fight all out," he said.

Earlier in his speech, Najib named the UMNO leadership line-up including his deputy, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi whose loyalty he had never doubted and vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein.

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak also stressed that the Malays need to unite with UMNO to uphold the dignity of the race.

"In the effort to make the Malays glorious, let us unite for the sake of UMNO, Islam, and Malaysia. We have to persevere, despite the many obstacles and challenges."

The 2016 UMNO General Assembly which ended also saw 2,643 delegates expressing their solidarity and concern towards the oppression of the ethnic Rohingya in Myanmar.

The support was pronounced after Datuk Seri Najib stated Malaysia’s firmness in condemning in the strongest terms the ethnic cleansing in Myanmar.

“I wish to inform that the Office of the President of Myanmar had issued a statement yesterday. The content of the statement said that I would be regarded as interfering in the internal affairs of Myanmar, if I, as Prime Minister, attend the gathering tomorrow.

“I want to tell him this is not a question of interference in Myanmar’s affair, this is a question of defending humanitarian values, universal values.

“God willing, tomorrow Najib Razak UMNO President will attend. I will not budge an inch because it is not Najib Razak who will attend, (it is) Najib Razak (who) represents three million UMNO members (who will attend), this is our stand, this is a big-hearted party,” he said, to the shouts and claps of the delegates.

Meanwhile, the three UMNO wings’ chiefs namely Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar, Tan Sri Shahrizat Jalil and Mas Ermieyati Samsudin in their winding up speeches reiterated their support towards the party leadership and to continue to defend the party in whatever challenges they are facing.

The 2016 UMNO General Assembly which kicked off November 29 and ended today was a five-day affair involving 5,732 delegates from across the nation to debate on the party's vision and mission.