'Use blue wave formula to change party leadership'
SHAH ALAM - Umno leaders are urged to employ the blue wave formula as a guide to comprehensively change the party's leadership to restore the people's confidence.
Former Kuala Nerus Umno chief Datuk Mohd Nasir Ibrahim Fikri stated that the leadership change needs to begin now and the party leaders must take responsibility for this to ensure the continuity of the esteemed party.
"Taking the blue wave movement formula from 2004, when Umno lost in Terengganu in 1999, Umno chief Tan Sri Wan Mokhtar Ahmad and the Division Chiefs, who were all 'warlords' in Terengganu, had the magnanimity to step aside and agree not to contest anymore.
"Umno Terengganu then had a fresh face. Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh was appointed to lead the state Umno, and I as the information chief.
"We were both 45 and 43 years old then," he said in a statement today.
Barisan Nasional (BN) recorded a poor performance by winning only 19 out of 108 contested seats in the recent state elections across six states last Saturday.
Further commenting, Mohd Nasir, who is also the Member of Parliament for Kuala Nerus, emphasized that the total transformation of Umno Terengganu also coincided with the change of leadership at the central level when Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi took over leadership from Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
"It's quite hard to digest the recent state election results, showing the shift in Malay support, leaving Umno especially in Terengganu and Kedah.
"What's even more saddening is that this change is not unexpected but a fact that is not acknowledged by leadership that closes their eyes and ears.
"BN supporters have openly expressed their rejection of the Pakatan Harapan (PH)-BN coalition, and this is a clear signal that Umno needs to be reset to become more appealing," he stated.
Mohd Nasir added that he was also deeply affected by Umno Terengganu's unfavorable results, especially when the traditional Dewan Undangan Negeri Seberang Takir seat, which was also held by his late father, Allahyarham Tan Sri Ibrahim Fikri Mohammad, since the first general election, was won by the opposing party.
"The Seberang Takir seat is unique, specifically designed to withstand any political wave.
"This defeat is truly disheartening and unexpected.
"Datuk Seri Ahmad Razif Abd Rahman, who represented this seat previously, needs to reflect on how this safe seat fell, and it should also be reminded that Terengganu was captured by Pas under Razif's administration as the Menteri Besar," he explained.
