SHAH ALAM: The Shah Alam parliamentary seat will be the key to Barisan Nasional’s efforts to wrest Selangor from the opposition in the next general election.
BN chairman Datuk Seri Najib Razak said Shah Alam’s status as state capital had made it into the turf where BN would jumpstart its “winds of change”.
“From the many Umno divisions in Selangor, I chose to launch Shah Alam’s division delegates meeting. Why?
“My aim was none other than to send a political message, that if we want to change Selangor’s political landscape, if we want to BN to return as the ruling party in this state, all our efforts must start in Shah Alam parliamentary constituency.
“(We shall use the tagline) ‘menang Shah Alam menang Selangor’ (win Shah Alam and we will win Selangor), do you agree?” Najib said in his speech to open Shah Alam Umno division meeting, here earlier today.
The call by Najib was greeted by thunderous applause from some 1,000 Umno delegates and members present. Also present was Selangor BN chairman Tan Sri Noh Omar among other state BN leaders.
Najib, who is Umno president, also reminded Selangor Umno members not to be comfortable with being the state’s opposition.
He said also BN must do “whatever it takes” to win the state, as they could not afford to be rejected for the third consecutive time.
“This is why as a political party, we must bring changes as demanded by the people. Because in parliamentary democracy, it is a game of numbers.
“To win Selangor, we must put in mind that we are the opposition here. And as the opposition, we should not be comfortable.”
Najib said Umno members also must have a winning mentality to ensure the effectiveness of their strategy, rather than being pessimistic.
“Sometimes, we can show (a certain degree of ) comfort (level) because the federal government is led by BN. So we have someone to depend on, to ask for assistance.
“But, in thinking that there is a place to turn to for help, I want members in Selangor to believe that it is the time we can no longer let it continue to be like this. Like Noh said just now (in an earlier speech), we cannot afford to be divorced for the third time.”
He said Umno has an advantage in Selangor, as the Greater Kuala Lumpur is a part of the Klang Valley and it needs an integrated planning for development. Najib said however cohesion in planning might not take place if the state government is not helmed by the same party at federal-level.
Later Najib announced an allocation of RM3 million for the Shah Alam Umno division to carry out its community programmes.