Is Umno prepared to contest on its own ticket? - Azalina
KUALA LUMPUR - Should Umno contest on its own ticket in the upcoming elections, or should it still contest under the Barisan Nasional flag, questioned its Information chief Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
In Facebook post, the Pengerang MP wrote that she witnessed a lot of internal disagreement among BN component parties since the 15th general election (GE15).
“It’s simple to urge the BN chairman (Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi) to step down (despite) BN being an institution. Why must everything be placed on the chairman despite the chairman not contesting in the previous election.
“What’s important is in any election the formula for victory must consider the factors of candidates, voters as well as challenges. What we must change now is not the president, but how we can work to move our campaigns,” she wrote
Azalina who is also the Law Minister said among the main challenges that Umno and BN are facing is due to a lag in political warfare on digital platforms, as the conventional face-to-face approach was no longer the mainstay of campaigns.
She explained members must understand and accept that the party faces a deficit of knowledge and mastery of digital platforms as the opposition spends a lot of time on social media to influence voters.
“We don’t have rules or laws that could restrict unlimited propaganda from the opponents as the providers are based abroad.
“Going forward, BN must be prepared to change and become a more adept party and have the knowledge and expertise of digital technology and the unity government must be prepared to go to war on digital platforms.
“Its important for me to state that this coalition is not a perfect unity, but it has room for improvement and what’s sure is that the unity government was built after finding common ground for the sake of religion, race and the nation,” she explained.
Azalina said she has gone through all the views and opinions shared by all parties, be it internally or from outside since Umno-BN suffered major losses in the previous elections.
She said it was the practice of democracy in a party where all members could provide their views, but democracy also shows that candidates can win and lose in elections.
“Its simple to point fingers especially when we lose. In the elections a loss or victory by one vote still counts as a win or loss. Maybe we can give an example, if we lose contesting for the PIBG (Parent Teacher Association) Yang Dipertua post we shouldn’t burn down and destroy the school.
“For example, metaphorically political parties begin at the court steps and some remain there, but after years of turmoil with security it’s members remain strong, and bond together to continue to place faith towards their leader,” she said.
