KUALA LUMPUR, 24 April 2009: Umno leaders tonight hailed new appointments in the party, saying the move would consolidate Umno and restore the people’s confidence.
While the newly appointed ones pledged to do their best, those who were not re-appointed vowed to continue serving to the party.
New Penang Umno chief Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said his appointment was an honour and that he would focus on efforts to strengthen party programmes with the cooperation from other Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties.
“I will discuss with division chiefs in Penang on the steps we should take not only to strengthen Penang Umno but also the cooperation with BN component leaders,” said the Umno vice-president.
Another vice-president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal who was appointed Kedah Umno chief, vowed to strengthen the party in the state. “The most important is to work for the party,” he said.
Wanita Umno chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said the appointment of Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz and Datuk Kamilia Ibrahim into the supreme council was an honour to women.
“We have been calling for at least 30% women participation in policy making. We can see that this time around women have been given due recognition,” she said.
Supreme council member Datuk Hamzah Zainuddin described the new leadership at the state level as a strong team “which will take Umno to new heights.”
Another supreme council member Datuk Bung Moktar Radin, who is also Kinabatangan Member of Parliament, said the supreme council meeting today stressed on efforts to strengthen the party and BN. “We discussed about how leaders should not only get close to the people but also resolve their problems.”
Puteri Umno chief Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin said the meeting today also touched on the changes which should be implemented in line with the 1Malaysia concept.
Federal Territories Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin described the appointment of Umno deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as the Federal Territories Umno chief as appropriate.
“It will give us new resolve in our quest to strengthen the party,” said Raja Nong who was appointed supreme council member and Federal Territories Umno deputy chief.
In KUALA TERENGGANU, Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said pledged to give his full cooperation to Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein who was appointed the new Terengganu Umno chief.
“Datuk Seri Hishammuddin is not a stranger in Terengganu and I welcome his appointment,” he said.
In ALOR SETAR, Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said he accepted Shafie Apdal’s appointment as the new Kedah Umno chief.”The party is more important and I hope that the BN will be able to win back Kedah in the next general election,” said Mahdzir was dropped as the Kedah Umno chief in the new line up.
In KOTA BARU, Tan Sri Annuar Musa said Datuk Mustapa Mohamed’s appointment as the new Kelantan Umno chief was a right decision based on his track record and commitment to the Kelantan people and Umno.
“His position in the government as the International Trade and Industry Minister will give him the advantage to lead Umno in Kelantan,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mustapa pledged to work hard to consolidate Umno and to serve the people of Kelantan to the best of his ability.
“This is a responsibility entrusted to me and it is my duty to give my best to the party,” said Mustapa who once held the post between 2000 and 2004.
In KANGAR, Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim said he accepted with open heart the fact that he was not reappointed as the Perlis Umno chief.
Shahidan hoped that his successor, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Md Isa Sabu, would be able to discharge his duties effectively.
“I have no problem working in upholding justice in the party and not for the interest of any quarter,” said Shahidan, who was appointed as a supreme council member.
In JOHOR BARU, new Umno information chief Ahmad Maslan vowed to get close to party members across generations to ensure Umno remained relevant among the people, particularly the Malay Malaysians.
“I will do all I can for the party, race and country, in line with the ‘1Malaysia, People First, Performance Now’ concept,” he said.
In SHAH ALAM, opposition leader Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo is optimistic that Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s appointment as the new state Umno chief would pave the way for the BN to recapture the state in the next general election.
“With the Umno president himself heading the state Umno, we now have the confidence to take back the Selangor state, given the many problems the current state government is facing,” he said. — Bernama
See also: Najib consolidates and compromises
