Umno Youth wants ban on the term ‘Pakatan Rakyat’

KUALA LUMPUR, March 27 – reported in malaysianinsider – source: Bernama

Umno Youth today suggested that all quarters, including the media, cease using the term “Pakatan Pakyat” to refer to the opposition pact because the loose coalition of opposition parties is not a legitimate entity.

Langkawi Umno Youth Chief Nor Saidi Nayan said the entity called Pakatan Rakyat was not a registered or an approved organisation under the Registrar of Societies’ rules and regulations.

“When was the Pakatan Rakyat approved as an organisation and who made the approval? If there are no approvals, why should the government, our party and the mass media promote this illegal organisation?

“We should ban the use of the term Pakatan Rakyat or any term in reference to any unregistered organisation,” he said when debating the president’s policy speech at the Umno General Assembly here today.

Nor Saidi said that Barisan Nasional (BN), a registed entity comprising political parties which represent the interest of the country’s multiracial community, cannot be equated with the opposition coalition.

“Who is this Pakatan Rakyat?” he asked.

On another matter, Nor Saidi suggested three approaches to improve Umno, namely continuous soul-searching, to involve more members in the decision-making process and strengthen its agenda to help the people.

He also called for a review on the election process with a view to giving more opportunities to branch leaders to elect party leaders.

“When a leader is voted by a large number of party members, this will create a sense of belonging among them,” he said.

He also called on the leadership to give more opportunities to the young to chart the country’s future.

“Umno Youth does not agree to the view that the young people are not qualified to shoulder heavy responsibilities.

“Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak became the Pahang Menteri Besar at the age of 29 while Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz became a minister at the age of 32 and Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo appointed Selangor Menteri Besar at the age of 35,” he said.