SHAH ALAM: Barisan Nasional (BN) members were reminded today to refrain from using the excuse of having insufficient funds to avoid carrying out party activities.
Its chairman, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, said BN component parties must follow their unity government counterparts, Pakatan Harapan (PH), in conducting party activities despite having limited resources.
Although BN had sufficient funds to run campaigns during the 14th General Election (GE14), the coalition lost the election and failed to form a government.
"During GE14, we had money (mewah), but did we manage to form a government?
"Money is not everything, even though everything requires money. (Hence), do not use the excuse of having insufficient money not to work.
"Ask PKR, DAP and Amanah.
"They have less resources (compared to BN), even to this day.
"Money is not a priority," he said in his speech at the Selangor BN Convention today.
"Ask PKR, DAP and Amanah.
"They have less resources (compared to BN), even to this day.
"Money is not a priority," he said in his speech at the Selangor BN Convention today.
Among the leaders present at the convention were BN secretary-general Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, Selangor BN chairman Datuk Megat Zulkarnain Omardin, Umno secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, MCA secretary-general Datuk Chong Sin Woon and Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari.
At the same time, Zahid, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, said both BN and its unity government counterpart, Pakatan Harapan (PH), cannot solely rely on its party members to become supporters and voters during general elections.
He added that this was as the new political landscape, which require the formation of certain parties to form a government, extends beyond party members.
"Umno and the parties within BN are membership-based parties, but, we cannot depend solely on party members to be supporters and voters for the candidates we put forward (in elections).
"The new reality is that (while) our friends in PH also have members and supporters, those unaffiliated with any political party often become decisive factors in the victory of both BN and PH candidates.
"This is the new reality that we must face," he said.