Prime Minister Najib Razak today advised Umno divisional leaders in opposition-administered states to solve their domestic problems so that these did not undermine the chances of BN in the next general election.

The BN chairman and Umno president said the divisional leaders had to put a stop to any squabble and make peace as it was the only way for Umno to regain strength.

Umno members in the divisions had to discard the tendency to quarrel among themselves and, instead, face the adversary, he said, adding that this would enable the BN to recapture the seats and states lost to the opposition.

"Umno loses in elections when Umno members and supporters do not support their own candidate. So, in an election, the division must be united in selecting a candidate. We can win if all of us are united. Select a candidate who has the support of all," he said when opening the Kuala Kedah Umno Division delegates meeting.

Najib said what was happening now was that Umno leaders and members had to put up with domestic politics and often quarrelled, which resulted in many factions in the divisions.  

He said he feared that Umno might fail to recapture the seats and states lost in the last general election if the domestic problems persisted.

"I cannot sleep soundly knowing there are factions in the divisions. All Umno members must return to the basis of the party's struggle and that of its past leaders," he said.

‘Nightmare could recur’

He said Umno members should take the party's defeat in the last general election as a lesson.

"Otherwise, the nightmare will recur. It will be most unfortunate if Umno were to fail to remain in power. Our struggle should not be confined to positions in the party. If you have property, use it to help the people," he said.

Najib also said that Umno did not only serve the Malays but also the non-Malays, and this had been evident for more than 60 years through Umno's cooperation with parties representing the other races.

Najib said the government's consideration now was more towards strengthening the economy and nurturing it in the long term.

"Therefore, when we reduce expenditure on subsidies, we reuse it for rural development ... on electricity and water. We save expenditure for allocations in the rural areas," he said.

He said that if the government and Umno leaders discharged their duties well, he was confident the people would switch their support to and be with Umno and the BN.

- Bernama