Umno AGM | Akmal calls previous PAS-Umno spats water under bridge; Noraini: We will not forget Najib's contributions

UMNO AGM SNAPSHOT | Highlights from the Umno AGM today.

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Umno-PAS youth wing ties

Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh has urged both PAS and Umno Youth to let bygones be bygones.

"I know there are still hurt feelings; Umno was once disappointed with PAS, and PAS' disappointment with Umno still persists.

"But the task of youths is not to inherit old squabbles; the task of youths is to lead the future. We can differ, disagree, but let's not disagree to the point that Malays lose everything," he said.

PAS Youth chief Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden (above) was present at the assembly.

No hard-to-reach candidate

Akmal also warned that those who are not responsive to communications will not be considered as election candidates.

"If there are any who are not working, who are lazy, or hard to reach by call or WhatsApp, who don't respond to text messages, we will ensure that they do not become candidates," he said during his policy speech at the Umno annual general assembly at the Kuala Lumpur World Trade Centre this morning.

The Merlimau assemblyperson reminded wing members that nothing is more important than the party's struggle and that positions in power are granted by voters.

Praying for Najib

Wanita Umno chief Noraini Ahmad said the party wing will not forget former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak's national contributions, offering prayers for his health and strength.

She said the incarcerated ex-premier was among former party leaders who had sacrificed much of their lives for the party and country.

"We do not have to erase history to build the future," she asserted in her policy speech.

While Wanita Umno has great respect for the country's legal institutions, the plantation and commodities minister said this did not stop the party wing from expressing its humanity.

Women candidates

Earlier in her speech, Noraini lamented that the Umno leadership continues to dismiss the women's wings' long-held demands for 30 percent women candidates during elections.

"Whenever it's time to determine candidates, (we're told) 'nanti dulu lah' (later)," said Noraini (above).

She said the demand must not be fulfilled out of sympathy, but because women deserved fair and equal consideration based on merit.

Reporting by Haspaizi Zain, Shakira Buang, Zarrah Morden, and Khoo Shi Yuan

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