TERENGGANU UMNO NEEDS STRATEGY TO COUNTER ALLEGATIONS - AHMAD ZAHID

JERTIH, July 13 (Bernama) -- Terengganu UMNO must change by focusing on strategising to counter various perceptions and accusations hurled against UMNO if it wants to revive the party in the state, said UMNO president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

He said Terengganu UMNO had been too focused on development and service politics.

"What are the plans? In terms of development and service politics, no other party does it in Terengganu except Barisan Nasional (BN). Whatever the people's needs are, the UMNO leadership will attend to them. 

"But we still lost... clearly rejected because we haven't changed yet. (Because) what's in the minds of voters are perceptions, issues and sentiments,” he said.

UMNO members should tackle these issues and not let political rivals continue attacking the party leadership, he said when opening the Besut UMNO division meeting here today.

Ahmad Zahid, who is Deputy Prime Minister, urged the Terengganu UMNO leadership to make the most of social media and not rely solely on traditional media.

"Our methods need to change. We need to address issues. Admit that we have failed ... we did not win a single parliamentary or state assembly seat in Terengganu.

"In this situation, I repeat that we can maintain but should not focus too much on development and service politics; instead, we need to address the issues thrown at us and not remain silent," he said. 

However, he did not deny that UMNO's defeat was partly due to internal party issues.

On another matter, Ahmad Zahid said he would not remain silent and would continue to fight for the well-being of former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

"As long as I am president, I will continue to fight for Datuk Seri Najib. Issues arise when UMNO members themselves create problems. They say UMNO talks but does not act. In reality, what we are working on ... there are things I cannot publicly share about what we are doing,” he added.

-- BERNAMA