Wakil rakyat malas, sukar dihubungi tak dicalonkan semula, kata Akmal

Pemuda Umno leader Dr Akmal Saleh has warned that local party members who are lazy or hard to contact will not be re-appointed in the upcoming election. Speaking at a Pemuda Umno foundation meeting in Kuala Lumpur World Trade Centre, he said such members need to become the eyes and ears of the leadership for reporting those who fail to perform their duties or neglect the party's service.

"We will ensure that any lazy or difficult-to-contact local representatives do not get re-nominated for the next election," he stated. Akmal added that members afraid to speak about the party's struggles will also be admonished, and appropriate action can be taken.

"The local representative is not just themselves, but also a voice for the party's aspirations and struggles," he emphasized. Akmal further warned that local Pemuda Umno members should not be arrogant or consider themselves superior after holding party positions, as they were elected and won with the support of party members.

He noted that Pemuda Umno currently has 11 local representatives compared to just four when he and senior leadership were first given responsibilities about three years ago. "This increase proves that Pemuda Umno can build strength even during difficult times," he said.

The rise in local representatives validates Pemuda Umno's ability to build strength while the party is in challenging circumstances, he added. Akmal acknowledged that Umno's 80-year journey has not always been easy, as it has experienced both victory and defeat, and even lost some of its members. However, he stressed that the party's path cannot change and must continue towards defending religion, nation, and national pride.