The principle of moderation that Umno had been practising since its formation in 1946 is the reason for the party's enduring relevance, strength, tenacity and acceptance by the majority of the people in the country, according to Umno Supreme Council member Abdul Rahman Dahlan.

He said it was proven in the history of Umno that the party had not only fought for the interest of the Malays and the Muslim bumiputera, but also for non-Muslims.

 

"To ensure that Umno, as the largest and most established party in the country, sustains its strength and is respected by people of other races and religion in the country, the principle of moderation must be upheld. Umno should not be seen as an extreme party," he said.

Abdul Rahman (right) who is also Kota Belud member of parliament said this to reporters after opening the Tuaran Umno Youth delegates' meeting here today.

Meanwhile, he said the local youth movement should push for a debate to standardise prices of goods and services in Sabah, Sarawak and the peninsula.

 

"We can still note a price difference, as shown in the label of goods from the factories. There are always two sets of prices, one for the peninsula and one for Sabah and Sarawak. 

 

"If we really want to embrace the 1Malaysia concept we should get the factories to set just one price," he said.

Abandoned project

On another issue, Abdul Rahman who is urban wellbeing, local government and housing minister, said his ministry and the Sabah state government would undertake to resolve the dilemma of housebuyers in a project involving 500 units of terrace houses at Taman Saujana Kinabalu, which had been delayed for five years.

"Before any project can be categorised as 'abandoned', the developer, buyers and bank must agree to it. If the buyers do not agree, the ministry cannot declare the project as abandoned," he said.

He said the ministry would initiate measures, such as rehabilitation of the project, once it is declared abandoned.

On the abandoned housing project in Lahad Datu involving 1,000 units, he said the project was being rehabilitated.

- Bernama