SEREMBAN: Umno is unfazed by criticism from any party, including PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang, over its Rumah Bangsa initiative.
Its deputy president, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, said the party’s priority was to rebuild after being rejected by voters in the 14th and 15th General Elections (GE14 and GE15), reported Sinar Harian..
He said Umno was now in a more stable position and is the most cohesive party compared with its political rivals.
“Umno is in the process of making a comeback and we want this effort to start from within so that we become the most cohesive party in the country.
“We want to build our strength on a foundation of harmony. So we do not care if others label us a ‘haunted house’ or anything else; that is up to them,” he told reporters after the Rembau parliamentary Umno iftar event here on Thursday (March 12).
He was responding to Abdul Hadi’s criticism of Rumah Bangsa, which the PAS leader described as an unsafe political structure inhabited by “ghosts” acting as watchmen and endangering its occupants.
The Rembau MP accused Abdul Hadi of frequently making “flip-flop” moves and of saying things that do not match his party’s actions.
“So it is pointless, and a waste of my time, to comment on his remarks,” he said.
Separately, Mohamad said Umno has begun discussions on preparations for the Melaka and Johor state elections (PRN).
However, he said no decision has been made on the timing of the elections in the two states.
“Whether Melaka goes first and Johor later, or both are held simultaneously, the party has yet to decide,” he said.
“We have instructed Umno branches to hold meetings from early April to May, and Umno divisions from June to July, so that we can focus on assisting our counterparts in Melaka and Johor,” he said.
On the possibility of the general election being held concurrently with the state polls, he said he did not want to speculate and cause public unease, noting that the decision rests with the Prime Minister.
He added that the government and Umno–Barisan Nasional are currently focused on sustaining positive economic momentum, including preparing for the potential impact of the West Asia conflict on Malaysia.