Umno deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin has admitted while the party has its own problems, he thinks there is rising awareness that the in-fighting will stop and many problematic divisions have pledged to continue fighting to ensure Umno and BN’s victory.

Yesterday Muhyiddin told Utusan Malaysia in the run-up to the 66th Umno assembly next week that the focus now is to prepare Umno members including the grassroots to ensure they garner the voters support.

“Certainly, I have reminded those in Umno and BN component parties that they have to avoid problems and be plagued by internal strife.

“I have reminded them to resolve their problems as we do not want it to be a barrier for us in registering a thumping victory.”

“I observe at present there is this awareness. From meetings held in selected divisions ... there is a resolve and promise that they will focus on ensuring the party wins.

“Differences of opinion is normal in any party but it should not create a problem for us to win,” Muhyiddin told the Umno-owned daily.

Taking heed of the biggest losses suffered by Umno/BN in 2008, Muhyiddin said party members have started early for the past two years to meet the people even as they try to resolve their problems.

‘Budget 2013 will help party win’

The DPM admitted that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has also been dishing out financial assistance and support as what was highlighted in the 2013 budget.

“This year and also next year the Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M) has been given, and all this would give a political impact and it must be translated to bring benefit to us....members should not leave the task to the officers only as they must be involved in helping out. If not the program would not bring benefit (to the party).”

Muhyiddin also made his usual round of attacks against the opposition whom he repeatedly claims has failed in the states they manage “as all of them are facing their own problems”.

“If we look at what they did to the states they control, it is not as great. Probably they did some promotion but there is no depth to what they have done,” he said.

“This had opened the mind of the Malays and others that Umno and BN has its weaknesses, but we have the experience to pull through, and we are willing to change to go to the ground and face the people at all times to resolve an issue.

 

“This has brought about a new confidence in Umno especially under Najib's stewardship,” he said.

“The opposition will use every tactic even to the extent of questioning the Election Commission to create the impression BN had won by cheating. But if they won, it is not cheating. The opposition will be aggressive and we have to be more aggressive and strategise.

“They will psyche the people’s minds that they are ready for Putrajaya and we will tumble.

“However, I am confident that in the end, BN (will win) and Najib will be the PM, god-willing,” he said, adding there is no time for members to rest on their laurels as they have to rise up to fight until the 13th general election ends.