UMNO members urged to place party above personal interest

Salleh, who is also Communications and Multimedia Minister, pointed out that this was also key to the stability of the party.

He reminded that when an individual chose to join UMNO, he must be prepared to sacrifice personal interest for the party.

"When the party makes a decision, we must abide by the party's decision, the leader's decision. That is the key to everything because we are in an organisation.

"The party is more important than the individual. That is our stand," he said when opening the simultaneous opening of the Wanita, Youth and Puteri Movements of the Cheras UMNO division, Friday.

He said UMNO members must be loyal to the leader and party.

He pointed out that although they might not agree with the decision made by the party leadership at times, the differences must be voiced and resolved through the proper channel.

He was confident that if this principle was upheld, UMNO would not have any problem in staying relevant in its struggles. Meanwhile, Salleh also wanted UMNO members in Peninsular Malaysia to take the Sabah history before UMNO's entry to the state as an example in defending the party.

He said that before UMNO's entry to Sabah, politics in the state used to be divided, but UMNO's entry into the state had not only stabilised the political situation in Sabah but it was also expanding.

"I hope this experience will be a lesson for us in the Peninsula. Let there be no division among us which will only benefit the other people.

"We must be the driver that determines the future of our own country instead of being mere passengers," he said.

He urged UMNO members to be brave in defending the party from being ridiculed by others.

"There is no point in saying that we are leaders, but we are cowards. Before we even fight, we concede defeat," he said.