JOHOR BAHRU - Umno grassroots must welcome Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who is also Pakatan Harapan chairman as the guest of honour at the Umno General Assembly (PAU) 2023.
Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan said the move to invite Anwar and also leaders of other coalition parties proved that the Unity Government is now ready to face the state elections.
"On Umno's relationship with parties within the Unity Government, we have to be open about other party leaders attending the general assembly.
"This is important as now we are gearing up for the state polls in six states, namely Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Penang, Kedah, Terengganu, and Kelantan, as one coalition," he said.
He said this at the Johor Umno meeting on Sunday.
The Umno General Assembly (PAU) 2023 is set to create history as it will be attended for the first time by leaders from DAP and PKR, who once were foes.
Umno secretary general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki announced that all party presidents in the Unity Government, including Anwar, will attend the general assembly held at the Kuala Lumpur World Trade Centre (WTC) from June 7 to 10.
Meanwhile, Ahmad, who is also Johor Umno deputy chairman, hopes that the Umno grassroots, who supposedly want to boycott the general assembly this time around, will accept the new political dynamic that requires an open mind.
"They need to understand the concept of a democratic party as ordered by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, which saw the formation of the Unity Government.
"This must be understood by everyone, including those who try to create polemics," he said.