Umno party leaders must be willing to step aside from contesting the next general election, if they are not considered winnable candidates.

The three party vice-presidents also said they were willing to lead the way by stepping aside graciously if members and the public felt that their services were no longer needed.

NONE Party vice-president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi ( left in photo ) acknowledged that in the closed-door briefing, party president Najib Abdul Razak had indicated that those unable to win must graciously step aside.

“Just after the president said this, I received an SMS from (former Terengganu MB) Idris Jusoh saying he is willing not to contest in GE13.

“This is the spirit that we want, that is, the party has to be given preference, rather than the individual. The party president’s advice is to prepare them to accept it graciously and to look within themselves. It is done with hikmah ,” he said.

As to whether the three vice-presidents were willing to make way if they were considered not “winnable candidates”, all three vice-presidents replied in the affirmative.

NONE Another vice-president, Hishammuddin Hussein, said party members have to take heed from past leaders.

“If the top Umno leaders and former prime ministers like Tun Hussein, Tun Dr Mahathir and Pak Lah himself are willing to give way, who are we to say no,” Hishammuddin said.

“If they are able to graciously give way, who are we as normal elected representatives? They have shown an example and we as members should emulate it,” he said.

Another vice-president, Shafie Apdal ( right in picture above ), said when the time came that they could not make further contributions, then they had to put the party above self.

NONE “What is important is to see that the party remains at the pedestal (of leading the country), with Barisan Nasional,” Shafie said.

“The president has aired his views to all Umno members that when they are not selected as a candidate or classified as a winnable candidate, they should know this. The game is no longer like in the past. Youth is needed and regeneration of leadership is important,” he said.

If it is for the betterment of Umno, he said, by all means give the necessary support.

Ahmad Zahid said the advice was timely as the party does not want to put a “knife at the neck” ( letak parang yang tajam untuk penggal ) of the person.

“What is important is that we do self-criticism and muhasabah (evaluate oneself) if we cannot bring victory to the party we might as well withdraw ( undurkan diri ),” he said.

Related stories

Others are 100 times more racist, claims Muhyiddin

Umno more democratic than parties A, B and C, says Najib

PAS' divorce oath stymied Perak unity gov't

Mukhriz: Pakatan are tools of neo-imperialists

Najib urges Umno to overcome 'game changers'

'Najib failed to deliver hope for GE13'

Reluctant politican is rising star in Umno

Umno membership reaches 3,297,358 nationwide

DAP the flavour of this year's Umno AGM

DPM, didn't Dr M campaign against the sultans?

[PHOTO GALLERY]