Umno drifting aimlessly like a lost ship, say grassroots leaders

PETALING JAYA: Umno is like a ship adrift without any direction after the devastating defeat at the 14th General Election, its grassroots leaders said today.
While they have accepted the rejection by the people at the ballot, they are worried about the lack of leadership from the top.
"The mood hasn't picked up (after the GE14 blow)," The Malaysian Insight quoted an unnamed Umno division leader in the federal territory as saying.
He and a few Umno grassroots leaders spoke to the news portal anonymously for fear of being accused of washing dirty linen in public.
"Umno has lost direction. None of the leaders have successfully brought stability to the members so far," said an Umno Youth exco member. "It's like everyone is afraid to go for a post."
With Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak's resignation as Umno president and BN chairman, the party is led by vice-presidents Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein. Zahid and Hishammuddin had taken on the duties of president and deputy president respectively.
Umno branches will elect the leadership from now until June 10. Party wings Wanita, Youth and Puteri will hold their polls on June 23. Voting for division leaders, Supreme Council members and top posts will be held on June 30.
Nominations for Supreme Council members will open on June 1 and close at 5pm on June 17, the report said.
Insight reported a division chief as saying the grassroots leadership had yet to call for meetings to prepare for the party elections as the members were still downcast.
"If the meetings are not held, it's possible that the division can be dissolved," he said.