BERA: Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob wants Umno to continue supporting him as the Prime Minister to enable him to focus on resolving the country’ economic and health issues.
The Umno vice-president said although the number of Covid-19 cases had dropped, and the country’s economy was seen to be recovering, his task has not been completed.
“I need support from the party for strength to fight on. The biggest issue are the issues of the people and not the endless politicking.
“The (Covid-19) cases are dropping, but the number is still around 4,000. Don’t think that we are now completely free from Covid-19. My responsibility is still a huge one and I have to do it,” he said when opening the Bera Umno Wanita, Youth and Puteri delegates meeting here yesterday.
Meanwhile, Ismail Sabri also called on Umno to return to the party’s fundamental struggle of uniting the Malay and Muslim communities to ensure victory in the next general election (GE).
He said the party’s defeat in the last GE should serve as a reminder to party members about the importance of unity.
“We formed the government today not because we won the GE, but because we worked with other parties. We seem to have forgotten that.
“The original purpose of Umno’s establishment was to unite Muslims and Malays, but the opposite is happening now, with several camps and rifts surfacing in the party,” reported Bernama.
He also reminded party members to not be smug about the party’s landslide victory in the recent Melaka state election.
“Congratulations on the victory in Melaka, but it can’t be used as a model. We haven’t fully won, and the increase in our popular vote is just 1% in Melaka,” he added.
Ismail Sabri said Umno Youth and Puteri members should continue reaching out to young people who will be the determining factor in the party’s victory at the next GE when implementation of Undi18 and automatic voter registration takes effect on Dec 15.
“The task of Youth and Puteri members, especially at the division level, is to engage young voters to get their support. This should be our commitment,” he added.
Ismail Sabri, who is Bera member of Parliament, also reminded parties that despite having the freedom to air their views, they must respect the power bestowed on the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to dissolve Parliament, as accorded under the Constitution.