Asyraf claims attacks on Umno carried out by those abusing power

UMNO AGM | Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki has claimed that attacks against the party were carried out by parties abusing power and positions, including betraying allies who previously helped them reach the top.

During his speech at the Umno annual general assembly (AGM) this morning, Asyraf refrained from naming the individuals or parties concerned but described them as "corrupt".

"What has happened recently also reminds us how corrupt humans become when they drift away with temporary power until they lose their senses, greedily abusing the remnants of their positions, and persecuting friends who previously elevated them to the peak," he said when presenting the secretary-general's report at the Kuala Lumpur World Trade Centre (WTC KL).

Asyraf (above) said the parties concerned thought that humiliating and embarrassing Umno would cause the party to become weak.

"They miscalculated. They thought that by humiliating and embarrassing us, we would become weak.

"They are wrong. We fight for Umno. We fight for the Malays," he said.

He added that the political pressure applied to Umno was allegedly aimed at scaring, humiliating, and tarnishing the party's reputation as well as testing its resolve.

Yesterday, a Wanita delegate said the presentation of a former Kedah Umno leader at court in orange attire and handcuffs should not be used to tarnish the party's image.

Padang Terap Wanita Umno chief Suraya Isa is believed to be referring to former religious affairs minister Jamil Khir Baharom, who recently appeared in court clad in the orange MACC lock-up attire during an application to extend his remand in a probe linked to the Tabung Haji royal commission of inquiry.

All fired up

Elaborating, Asyraf said the challenges faced by Umno instead fired up party members to fight back.

"Challenged, we rise. Pressed, we jump higher. Struck, we stand firmer to fight back," he said.

He explained that BN's victories in the Johor and Negeri Sembilan elections did not come for free.

He claimed that Umno's reunion with "old friends" from PAS was envied by rivals to the extent that the party faced various forms of intimidation, slander, and accusations.

Several PAS senior leaders were present at the event, including vice-president Idris Ahmad, secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan, information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari, and the political secretary to the PAS president, Syahir Sulaiman.

Umno had previously extended an official invitation to the top leadership of PAS to attend the assembly as a sign of respect and to reciprocate PAS' invitation to Umno leaders to attend the 72nd PAS muktamar in Pengkalan Chepa, Kelantan recently.

The party is weighing cooperation with opposition bloc Perikatan Nasional amid tensions with federal bed mate Pakatan Harapan - a reluctant partnership between rivals that was triggered by the hung Parliament result in the last general election.

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Asyraf also reminded party members not to be overly boastful about the success in the state elections as the victories were delivered on the responsibility to serve Malaysians.

"We must not look up too high when the wind is in our favour, because the wave that brings us up can also slam us down if we forget our roots, forget ourselves, become arrogant, proud, and careless," he added.

Rumah Bangsa

He further stated that 45,808 individuals had joined or returned to Umno since the initiation of the “Rumah Bangsa” concept seven months ago, which he described as a very encouraging response to the concept initiated by party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

According to Asyraf, the development saw the total membership of Umno reach 3,251,456 as of Aug 31.

"Since the president initiated the 'Rumah Bangsa' concept at the last Umno AGM, Umno headquarters has received an overwhelming response.

"There are those who want to return, who want to join, who want to reactivate, and who want to participate in 'Rumah Bangsa'," he said.

He added that Wanita Umno has 1.4 million members, while the youth wing has 418,000 and the young women's wing 226,000.

He said Johor recorded the highest increase in new members over the eight months this year, followed by Pahang, Selangor, Perak, and Sabah.

He also expressed his appreciation to former key party leaders including Hishammuddin Hussein, Khairy Jamaluddin, Syed Hamid Albar, Noh Omar, and Mustapa Mohamed who returned to “Rumah Bangsa”.

Zahid (above) introduced the “Rumah Bangsa” concept in January this year, describing it as part of efforts to restore Malay political unity.

The move was welcomed by PAS, which has consistently championed ummah unity efforts.

While Umno seems receptive to PAS' courtship, an issue of contention is the question of who will lead the alliance, as leaders from both parties argue that their respective camps should spearhead efforts.

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