Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has urged Umno members to continue to give priority to the interests of the party to ensure its survival.

The former prime minister said every member of the party should not take extreme action on any particular issue to the extent of giving a negative effect on the party’s direction.

“There are many differing opinions on certain issues currently. What is important is that we must strengthen our stand in (choosing) what is best.

“Because eventually, we are the ones who decide on the party, surely we won’t (do anything to the party) to the extent of damaging it,” he told reporters after launching six new books published by the Institut Kefahaman Islam Malaysia (Ikim, or Institute of Islamic Understanding) at the institute in Kuala Lumpur today.

He disclosed this when asked to comment on the crisis involving Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad currently.

Abdullah said Umno members should know how to differentiate between party matters and other issues to preserve solidarity among party members whether the the top party leadership or among the grassroots.

“I am not confused (on the crisis involving Najib and Mahathir) and I always understand about Umno,” he said.

The six latest books were ‘Pengurusan & Pemuliharaan Alam Sekitar Dari Perspektif Islam’, ‘Kewangan Islam - Pemikiran Dan Penilaian Kontemporar’', ‘Memperkasa Peranan Teknodaie - Cabaran Dalam Pembangunan Dan Penggunaan ICT’, ‘Preservation Of Human Progeny In The Age Of Biotechnology’, ‘The Influence Of Islam Upon Classical Arabic Scientific Writings: An Examination Of The Extent Of Their Reference To Quran, Hadith And Related Texts’ and ‘Makanan Antara Sunnah & Sains’.

Further information on the six books can be obtained through the Ikim portal at www.ikim.gov.my and Ikim’s Facebook page.

- Bernama