Umno members, especially in the Kota Belud division, are reminded to continue to strengthen the party to make it more popular, said Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak.

Salleh, who is also Kota Belud Umno chief, said all Umno members must be sincere in their struggles in order to keep the party relevant.

He also said that Umno members should express gratitude towards the government which had been developing the country.

"We fight and work for the people through the party (because) Umno must be popular, more popular than individuals (leaders) and do not make individuals more popular than the party," he said.

Salleh said this in his speech at the simultaneous opening of Kota Belud Wanita, Youth and Puteri Umno meeting at Tun Said hall today.

The meeting was launched by Umno supreme council member Noh Omar, who is also Urban Well-being, Housing and Local Government Minister.

Meanwhile, Salleh said the party and its president could not be separated because the president was the backbone of the party.

Therefore, he said, full support should be given to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak as the president, for him to continue to lead Umno.

He added that the formation of a new political party was merely aimed at bringing down Umno, and it was the responsibility of Umno members to fight them as enemies who wanted to destroy the party.

"This includes going to the ground to explain the real situation and expose the weaknesses of the opposition," he said.

- Bernama