People in Pahang will continue to support PM Najib - Adnan Yaakob

The people in Pahang will continue to support Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his leadership despite various accusations and slanders being hurled at him, said Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob.

He said the people in the state are smart enough in judging and appreciating the efforts made by government and the prime minister to help and develop the people by creating facilities such as the Urban Transformation Centre (UTC), 1Malaysia Shop (KR1M) and others.

"I am confident that the Pahang people will continue to support and trust UMNO as well as Barisan Nasional (BN) because only the party-led government can give a better future for them," he said.

He was speaking at the Cameron Highlands UMNO division delegates meeting launch ceremony which was officiated by Datuk Seri Najib here.

Adnan, who is also Pahang UMNO Liaison Committee chairman, is confident that the Cameron Highlands UMNO led by Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail can wrest back Tanah Rata state seat from the opposition in the upcoming 14th General Election (GE14).

In SEGAMAT, UMNO Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said UMNO members must get rid of sentiments and nostalgic feelings towards former leaders who left the party as they were no longer 'on the same boat'.

He said although each of the former leaders had their own contributions to the nation, people must not give support to them anymore as they had worked together with the opposition to topple the government, UMNO and BN.

"There is no difference between Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (former UMNO leader), Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (former UMNO deputy president) and Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (PKR president), Lim Kit Siang (DAP adviser), Lim Guan Eng (DAP secretary-general), Mohamad Sabu (Parti Amanah Negara president)... they are now in the same group against Umno," he said.

Ismail Sabri, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister, was speaking to reporters after officiating the Labis Umno division delegates meeting here.

He said the opposition was now trying to divide and distract Umno members so that they would fight against each other, and that internal scuffle had taken place for two years now.

"The issues created by them to smear the prime minister had caused some among us (UMNO leaders and members) to treat the nation leader badly... we have judged early before (that person) is proven guilty.

"In fact in Islam, a person cannot be judged whether (he or she) belongs to heaven or hell while still alive," he said.

In PEKAN, Wanita UMNO vice chief, Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun urged UMNO members to instil a true fighting spirit when defending the party from the opposition trying to create disharmony in UMNO.

She said that if UMNO wished to remain strong in order for BN to win in the 14th general election, its members needed to champion the party rather than attending to personal agendas.

Azizah, who is also Women, Family and Community Development Deputy Minister said if its members did not defend the party then it would give way for the opposition to attack the party's leadership.

"If we join a party just to gain positions rather than for a cause, our stand will become weak when we do not get the position that we aim for.

"As such, we need to remind ourselves of the true cause of the party," she said when launching the delegate conference of the Pekan Wanita UMNO division, here.

In GERIK, Puteri UMNO chief Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin said every member of the party must play their role and carry out their responsibilities to ensure that UMNO and its leaders would continue their struggle despite facing various challenges.

She said such strength from UMNO members was needed in order to enable the leaders to fight so that UMNO would stay relevant in championing the Malays.

"We must continue the struggle and take (any) faction in the party as a lesson," she told reporters after officiating the Gerik Umno Wanita, Puteri and Youth delegates meeting here.

Mas Ermieyati, who is also Deputy Tourism and Culture Minister, said UMNO members must work as a team to ensure the party remained strong.

"If UMNO falls, there are no other parties that can champion the Malays like UMNO," she said.

In PERMATANG PAUH, UMNO Supreme Council member Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan said the party's leaders and members at grassroots level must put aside all existing problems and move on to face the GE14 with full of confidence and unity.

He said the high level of confidence from the way the leaders spoke and carried themselves would indirectly attract voters and boost their confidence towards the party.

"We will face the general election soon, not even two years (from now)... While waiting for that to happen, we have two choices - whether to discuss on problems and accusations by opposition or we boost our confidence towards the party and walk with style to the general election," he said in his speech at the launch of Permatang Pauh Umno delegates meeting here.

He said the Permatang Pauh UMNO was deemed important as the constituency is the opposition's stronghold, which also influenced the political scenarios in the country.

Abdul Rahman, who is also Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, reminded former UMNO supreme leaders not to stir chaos and confuse the people as that would divide the society, especially the Malays.

In PARIT, Wanita UMNO chief Tan Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil reminded Malaysians not to give too much attention on former UMNO leaders and members who left the party as they have their own agendas.

"Based on feedbacks (received), what they did such as forming up a new (political) party and condemning our leaders are not well received by the people.

"The people now are smart enough to decide which party that protect the interests of its people, like what Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has done, not to elect former UMNO leaders and members who betrayed the party," she said.

She disclosed this at a press conference after officiating the Parit Wanita, Puteri and Youth UMNO division delegates meeting here.

Meanwhile she said the women's wing would launch a massive anti-drug campaign nationwide to combat drug problem which is seen as rampant among the society.

Shahrizat said her quarters would hold talks with relevant parties, especially experts in anti-drugs campaign before a resolution would be brought and highlighted in the upcoming UMNO general assembly.

"Wanita UMNO cannot sit still, in fact we need to help to fight the drug problem in a more serious manner by launching a massive campaign.

"We will mobilise 1.3 million Wanita UMNO nationwide and join hands in dealing with the issue," she said.

She was commenting on an incident where a hardcore drug addict was alleged to have killed three family members and hurt their two other children at Kampung Bertam Malim in Melaka yesterday.

Meanwhile, in KUALA PILAH, UMNO deputy president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein urged UMNO members to close ranks to ensure that the party would continue to be strong and become the people's choice.

Officiating the Kuala Pilah UMNO delegates meeting here today Hishammuddin, who is also Defence Minister, also said Umno members should work harder and be ready to face the next general election.

At the meeting, Kuala Pilah Umno pledged undivided support for Datuk Seri Najib and the party's leadership.

Its chief Datuk Ismail Lasim said loyalty and unity from all UMNO members could defend the political institution and the party's president.

"Have faith that Kuala Pilah UMNO will not be affected by whatever issues being played up by certain quarters," he said in his welcoming speech.

In PASIR MAS, UMNO Supreme Council Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek said the party should come out with a specific index to measure unity level among its members to detect any internal faction.

He said so far, Umno had only focused on its preparedness to face the GE14 and not on the elements of unity.

"I propose this because based on (results) Sarawak state election and parliamentary by-elections in Sungai Besar, Selangor and Kuala Kangsar, Perak, obviously we won because of unity," he said.

He was speaking to reporters after launching the Pasir Mas Wanita, Youth and Puteri UMNO division delegates meeting here.

Also present was Pasir Mas Umno chief Datuk Hanafi Mamat.

In KLANG, UMNO Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Idris Haron urged Umno members who do not support the president (Datuk Seri Najib) to leave the party.

He said this was because the party's president is viewed as part of structures that strengthened a party.

"There are Umno members who support the party but not the president... this can't be right. A president is part of the structures of a party.

"...and when that person (disloyal member) run away, what will happen to the president? He will be left alone, we do not want that. We want someone who is with us wholeheartedly because this reflects the good image of UMNO," he said in his speech at the launch of Klang Umno division delegates meeting here today.

Idris, who is also Melaka Chief Minister, said UMNO members should not trust slanders and false news that came from certain quarters and ultimately betrayed their own president.

In PARIT, Parit UMNO chief Datuk Mohd Zaim Abu Hassan advised party members not to sympathise with former Umno leaders who planned to set up a new political party.

Instead, they have to take care of the party and its president so that Umno would not become weak, he said.

"As far as I am concerned, I don't think there is any Parit UMNO members who wants to join Tun Mahathir, (and) Tan Sri Muhyiddin. Let them go their ways but the people of Parit will still be behind UMNO," he said speaking at the Parit Wanita, Youth and Puteri Umno division delegates meeting here.

In PEKAN, Pekan Wanita UMNO chief Datuk Zalmah Abdul Rahman expressed disappointment towards the former party leaders who were willing to work together with the opposition to fulfill their personal agendas.

The opposition and Umno traitors had linked the president (Datuk Seri Najib) with 1Malaysia Development Berhad issue when in fact, we needed to wait the outcome of investigations by the National Audit Department and Public Accounts Committee, she said.