Noticias

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the transformation process in Umno should take into account the need for the party to move in tandem with the reality of new politics which now coloured the country’s political landscape.

Najib, who is also Umno president, said the party’s success thus far was not a guarantee for future success.

“To remain relevant, Umno has to be willing to carry out transformation that will reflect it as a party which is capable of assuring the future of the Malays and the country,” he said.

Bersih 2.0 is organising a petition campaign calling for all Election Commission (EC) members to step down, claiming they had failed to conduct a free and fair general election.

Newly-minted steering committee chairman Maria Chin Abdullah said they are targeting January to send the petition to the King.

She claimed the EC had failed to clean up the electoral roll despite clear evidence of irregularities and had failed to act impartially.

Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat are in discussions over a possible "global settlement" on 19 election petition appeals that are pending at the Federal Court for determination.

Global settlement refers to an agreement between the parties after they address or compromise on the matter accordingly.

Barisan's lawyer Datuk Firoz Hussein Ahmad Jamaluddin said the political parties were in discussions whether the matter could be resolved amicably.

The Barisan Nasional government will continue to assist Chinese and Tamil schools for as long as there is the sun and the moon, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said.

The Deputy Prime Minister said it was not true that the coalition was giving allocations to vernacular schools only when there was a general election or a by-election.

He said allocations announced ahead of the Sungai Limau by-election on Nov 4 were approved earlier and were not just “goodies” to entice Chinese voters, who number more than 1,800 here.

PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang has been returned unopposed as the party president for a sixth consecutive term.

Hadi, who assumed the post following the death of Datuk Fadzil Mohd Noor in 2002, had never been challenged in the biennial party elections.

He would have faced his first challenger this year had the party’s election committee not rejected the candidacy of Padang Serai chief Fauzi Tahir.

Barisan Nasional components should look at new approaches and strategies to keep abreast with the demands of the younger generation, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said.

The Prime Minister said these were measures that Barisan members could take in adapting to the new political landscape while strengthening the ruling coalition.

Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir wants all state Umno wings to choose leaders who are “strong” enough to defend the Barisan Nasional Government’s policies.

He urged delegates from the Wanita, Youth and Puteri wings to also choose leaders who can face the challenges coming from the Opposition and help to ensure Barisan wins the next general election.

“We must have leaders who are able to hold their own when debating with the Opposition and defend the Government’s policies,” he said after introducing Umno candidates in Alor Setar yesterday.

A total of 334 candidates vying for various positions at Umno division elections have been disqualified due to bankruptcy.

Umno election commitee chief Tan Sri Tajol Rosli Ghazali said 495 candidates for the same election had withdrawn while 39 were not allowed to contest due to disciplinary issues.

He said these people had been barred from contesting as they had sabotaged the party during the 13th general election.

MCA Deputy President Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai on Tuesday denied allegations by 20 MCA Central Committee (CC) members that the MCA failed miserably in the 13th general election (GE13) because he failed to carry out his responsibilities as the chairman of MCA's GE13 committee.

Liow also refuted claims from the group that he had refused to withdraw the membership of Pulai Sebatang state assemblyman Datuk Tee Siew Keong who was offered a post of exco in Johor, resulting in an internal conflict in the party.