UMNO members must focus on strenghtening party, avoid personal comments - Khairy

The UMNO Youth Movement today unanimously called on its members to hold programmes which can strengthen the party and not make statements based on personal views.

Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin said although members have their rights to voice their views, they should remember that at this moment, their focus should be on the agenda to contribute to party unity. "We have to be committed in matters which can strengthen the party and close ranks among members, and continue working for the party's future, as well as ensure that all the party problems are resolved," he said after chairing the UMNO Youth Exco meeting at the UMNO Headquarters here, today.

He said at the last exco meeting, it was decided that although Umno Youth raised several issues which must be tackled by the top leaders, the movement remained committed in supporting the party and avoided actions that can cause tension.

Meanwhile, Khairy said UMNO Youth would focus on technical and vocational education training organised under Pemuda Mahir which could help youths become educated and skilled.

The Pemuda Mahir programme which will be launched early next year will support government efforts in bringing the skills-based education into the mainstream.

Other programmes organised by Pemuda are the Ringgit Management Symposium on financial management, especially personal affairs, and the Young Agropreneur Symposium 2015 which offers an Agropreneur scheme with offers a RM30,000 grant to eligible agriculture entrepreneurs.

In a separate development, Khairy said the aspirations of the youth who were outside the party would be the focus of debate by the UMNO Youth during the UMNO General Assembly in December. "It would ensure that discussions during the assembly are relevant with the ideas and desires of the younger generation, regardless of party, we are calling on leaders not just in UMNO, but also graduates, to give their views during the Convention for the Young which will be held on Nov 28," he said.

On the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) issue, Khairy said the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) was the most appropriate body to resolve the issue as it also included the opposition parties.

"Whatever decision made by the PAC, the opposition cannot say it is prejudiced," he said.