'If Umno loses, Malays may never rule again'

 

An Umno supreme council member has warned that if internal problems in the party are not resolved and BN loses the next general election, Malays may never rule the nation again.

Such a defeat, according to Ibrahim Abu Shah, would be a "dark day" for the Malays and nation.

"Internal problems, especially concerning unity among party members, must be solved immediately without taking personal interests into consideration," he said.

In view of this, Ibrahim (right) said Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s recent reprimand for Selangor Umno must be taken into account by the party’s machinery nationwide to continue winning the hearts of the people.

The former Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) vice-chancellor urged Umno members to confront the “external challengers” and explain to the people so that voters, especially fence sitters, would have confidence in the party.

With the government implementing various transformation programmes, he added, there was no reason for the people not to support Umno and BN.

“If Umno and BN lose in the 14th general election, I think it would be a dark and unfortunate day for the Malays and the nation,” he was quoted as saying by Umno Online.

Ibrahim was speaking after presenting a paper at a political workshop during the Johor Umno convention today.

Umno would be holding its annual general assembly from Nov 25-29.

At the recent Selangor Umno convention, Najib said he felt ashamed that the party had still not recaptured the state, which fell to Pakatan Rakyat in 2008.

Following this, former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad said Selangor Umno must shed its image as being “corrupt” and called on its leaders to resign.