2 theSun | THURSDAY MARCH 26 2009

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At the Umno General Assembly

Reports by Lee Boon Siew, Ng Kee Seng, Maria J. Dass, Giam Say Khoon, Karen Arukesamy and Tim Leonard

Umno members
must change
too, says Rafidah Hishammuddin vows to fight
THE rebranding of Umno has to
be wholesome and it is not the
party that needs to be changed
but its members, said Umno
Wanita chief Tan Sri Rafidah
Aziz.
members last before they too
succumb to the pressure.”
She reminded the 796 del-
egates present that the causes
Umno are fighting for could only
be realised if Barisan Nasional
‘agent provocateur’
“A change in branding, label- continues to win in general
ling and presentation alone is elections. IN HIS last speech as Umno Youth as this could destroy the nation.
not enough as the content and “Only if we win can we fulfil chief, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin “To these irresponsible people,
product itself needs to be re- the hopes and aspirations of Hussein went on the offensive don’t ever attempt to take advan-
evaluated by the leaders.” the Malays and implement the against a power-crazy agent pro- tage of the situation to show off
In her policy speech at the policies that can integrate the vocateur, saying the movement will courage and to ramble under the
opening of the wing’s annual Malays and bumiputras into fight to the end to defeat his dirty immunity provided by the Dewan
general assembly, Rafidah said: mainstream development,” she and cruel politicking. Rakyat and make wild allegations.”
“… the party is not disabled or added. Without naming the person, He said the Opposition was
tainted as it has been caring Expressing disappointment the outgoing Youth chief said this engaging in organised attempts
for, protecting and leading the over dissenting voices in the person was willing to “sow the to undermine the country’s pillars,
Malays in this country for more Wanita wing, she said members seeds of hatred, colluding with the which formed the basis of the
than 62 years. Its members need should focus on becoming ag- enemy, insult the nation in various nation’s sovereignty.
to change.” gressive, vociferous and active. world forums, deny the rights of his “They are questioning the social
Hishammuddin own race, and mock the institution contract and the special position of
She said following the bitter “Umno is a grassroot party
wipes his of rulers”. the Malays and bumiputra in a very
fight for the Umno presidency and they are made up of mem-
tears after the He said whatever this person arrogant manner. The social con-
in 1987, the scourge of money bers, voters and the rakyat in
Panca Warisan did or say will be forever etched tract is deliberately misinterpreted
politics had crept into Umno, in general,” she said
keris was in history as the work of a person to fan racial sentiment,” he said.
addition to communal politics. Rafidah said there was a
presented to who wears different masks and is Hishammuddin also said he
“The quest for positions need to go down to the ground
him after his full of pretence and who is a liar had never betrayed the Malays
and conquests has spread to to meet the voters and rakyat so
speech. and manipulator. throughout his 11-year tenure as
become a new political culture that their confidence in Umno
He said the movement would the movement’s chief.
that is politics of money and and BN can be restored.
defend the rule of law, the rights “I’m aware all sorts of text mes-
special perks. Positions in Umno She urged delegates to set
and privileges of the Malays and sages and poison-pen letters are
have become a tender to the aside their differences in the
bumiputras, the sanctity of Islam circulated to attack my character
highest bidder. party to ensure a win for BN in and the institution of the Malay but I leave it to God to judge.
“Party posts are up for auc- the Bukit Selambau and Bukit » More pix on rulers. “I will never betray the strug-
tion (at every election) to those Gantang by-elections. www.sun2surf. “We will not allow these pillars gle which we inherited from my
who are willing to pay. But there “This will be our gift to the com
to be uprooted in this beloved grandfather (Datuk Onn Jaafar)
are still many Umno members incoming prime minister, insya homeland of ours,” he told the 793 and father (Tun Hussein Onn). I will
who uphold integrity and trust allah (God Willing) Datuk Seri delegates to the Youth assembly. never betray the Malay struggle.”
… how long more will such Najib Abdul Razak,” she said. He also reminded opposition He called on the new Youth
parties not to abuse freedom of ex- leadership to woo the young and
pression to stoke the fire of racism get closer to the people.
‘Don't see other languages as a threat’ Panca Warisan’s last show
THE ability to speak languages other mother tongue,” she asked delegates Some women nowadays feel their job THE keris “Panca Warisan” was yes- ing, to the highest level of the party
than one’s mother tongue will boost the during her wrap-up speech at the Wanita is done when they bear and give birth terday handed to outgoing Youth leadership.”
confidence and capabilities of children in Umno assembly. to the children, then they leave them at chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hishammudin’s act of unsheath-
addition to increasing their competitive- Rafidah also expressed concern over their parents’ home or with a nanny for Hussein and will no longer feature ing the keris and holding it high
ness, said Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz citing the the high number of drop-outs, drug their own pursuits, she said. in the youth assembly. in past assemblies had aroused
success of English educated students in addiction and other social problems “Women and mother are not paying Hishammuddin told reporters controversy in 2006 and 2007 and
the past. among Malay youth and children. enough attention to their children and the keris has been passed to him some BN component parties had
She said the fact that one is picking “It all boils down to poor parenting,” the problem is worse among single so that he can bring it to the party’s criticised it. He maintained the is-
up another language like English, Chinese she said. mothers as there is also no father figure main body and he hoped the issue sue was exaggerated as the keris
or Tamil should not be seen as a threat to “We used to hear the phrase ‘the for the children,” she added. will now be put to rest. is a symbol of unity of the Malay
Bahasa Malaysia. On the contrary it should hand that rocks the cradle, rules the Rafidah also told the delegates to Asked if the keris will continue community as well as other races.
be see as an advantage, she added. world’ but the situation now is differ- choose their party leaders at the Umno to be a sensitive issue, he said: “I have apologised over the
“Don’t you think it would make you ent because it is the nanny or the bibi AGM today wisely as their choices will “No, as now the keris has been incident and I would like to look
feel confident to be able to converse in (Indonesian maid) who is rocking the have an effect on the way the world given to me personally, I have the forward now,” he told reporters
English proficiently in addition to your cradle,” Rafidah said. views the country. responsibility to bring it, God will- after the speech.

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