UMNO members told to implement Najib's speech

When met, Datuk Seri Hasan Malek, who is also Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister said the speech had a message and a clear plan for the development of the country.

"Najib's speech describes his heart's true desire to see our country move forward and in 2020 we will succeed," he said.

Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Tun Dr Mahathir said the prime minister's speech answered questions pertaining to the Goods and Services Tax, Sedition Act 1948 and Maqasid Syariah.

International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said the assembly this time had essentially served to revive members' diminishing enthusiasm after the slightly disappointing general election results, last year.

"This new challenge we face is an enormous one; we have to recover and restore the party. So to restore Barisan Nasional, Umno must be strong, united and in solidarity.

"That's the Umno president's message today, to be united, to make way for the youth and restore the party as one that is favoured by the people," he said.

Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan said the retention of the Sedition Act 1948 proved safety issues and harmony could not be compromised.

"We are showing that we are serious. We have wasted a lot of time in recent years clashing over issues that do not benefit the country and the time has come for us to focus on the development of the country," he said.

Datuk Sohaimi Shahadan expressed hope that the delegates would respond to the president's call to revitalise Umno and keep it intact and strong, in order to remain relevant to the people.

"The delegates and divisional chiefs who heard the call should now proceed with the tasks ahead; it is not just about clapping hands and applauding in the hall.

"This is only the initial stage, which all three wings have proposed and agreed to; we are in the process of changing, to become a better party, in response to the call for Umno to move forward in preparation for the 14th general election," he said.

Datuk Shamsul Anuar Nasarah sees the president's closing speech as crucial in positioning Umno at a sturdy level, and is confident that the party would experience a change, as what the president had called for.

He said Najib's speech had answered the numerous issues that people had been talking about and showed Umno to be not just a party that safeguarded the interests of the Malays but also the people as a whole.

"Obviously, the people's questions and anxieties have been answered, in economy, education, law and so on. I am confident that after this, we as party members would translate what the party president had said into implementation.

"The people will surely feel relieved, secure and protected by the party which has all this while defended the interests of the people," said Shamsul Anuar, who is also Lenggong Member of Parliament (MP).