Johor Umno should reclaim pride in GE14

KLUANG: Johor Umno should rise up and reclaim their pride in the 14th general election by winning back all the seats it lost to the opposition in the last general election, said Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.
The Deputy Prime Minister said Johor was an Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) stronghold but it had been infiltrated by the opposition.
However, he believed that under the leadership of Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, who is also Johor Umno liaison chairman, Johor Umno would be able to reclaim their pride and wrest back the seats from the opposition.
"Even then, it will not be successful without the support of all the wings in Umno and BN components," he said when opening the Sembrong Umno divisional delegates meeting here today.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also discharging the duties of Umno deputy president following the sacking of Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, said he would assist the people of Johor and the state government to ensure victory for Umno and BN.
He said Umno and BN's victory in Johor was crucial as the state is their stronghold.
"Johor people! Wake up, rise up, win back the seats we lost (before),' he added.
In the 13th general election, BN won 21 out of 26 parliamentary seats in Johor, and 38 out of 56 state seats.
Ahmad Zahid also reminded Umno members on the importance of cooperation and unity between Umno and other BN component parties.
Ahmad Zahid said in the last two general elections, MCA, MIC and some other BN components suffered trust deficit and leadership crises whereas Umno maintained its good performance.
"However, when we (Umno) faced challenges, these were the parties that helped Umno. When Umno faced a major crisis from 1987-88, Umno was de-registered, but it was these parties that helped us to win (after it was re-registered)," said Ahmad Zahid.
"I wish to remind myself, now these parties are facing difficulties, not because they are weak but made weak by parties that do not like their thinking and cause disunity among the Chinese, Indians and other non-Malay ethnic groups," he said.
Also present was Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, who is also Umno vice president and Sembrong Umno head.
Earlier, the Deputy Prime Minister had opened the Rumah Komuniti (a community hall) for the Sembrong constituency. — Bernama