Forget about pointing fingers and start pushing forward, says Azalina

PETALING JAYA: There is no need to point fingers, instead the focus should be on efforts to create a direction forward for the unity pact, says Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.

The Umno information chief also lauded the outcome of Pakatan Harapan-Barisan Nasional’s maiden elections outing as partners.

Echoing Pakatan Harapan’s communications director Fahmi Fadzil, Azalina said in a statement on Aug 14, that the unity pact had successfully averted the Green Wave in the recently concluded state polls.

“I also agree that the unity government must scrutinise and step-up on the selection of candidates, machinery, manifesto, policies and campaigns for the 16th General Elections,” she said, adding that early preparations would benefit grassroots on all levels in ensuring that a stronger understanding can be formed.

She said the state polls which took place within eight months from when the unity pact took power, after years of being political foes, was the first test for the understanding between them.

Nevertheless, the Law and Institutional Reforms Minister said the pact had been successful in that endeavour.

She said the unity pact managed to win 49.58%, or 3,399,472 votes in the six states, compared to its opponent Perikatan Nasional, which trailed by 17,000 votes.

“After decades as foes and eight months of cooperating (under the unity pact), and united in the elections stage for the first time, the unity pact managed to obtain unique and positive results especially at the grassroots level whereby decades of political differences were set aside in the name of unity,” she said.

Nevertheless, the Pengerang MP said there had been a lot to fine tune en route to the recent polls, especially in getting to know candidates and forming an understanding at the grassroots level.

“It was not easy to align to form the direction forward, what more in such a short period. But it was realised successfully and can be stepped up in the future,” she said.

“There is no need to point fingers, in fact we should increase efforts to ensure that there is a clearer alignment for the direction forward which is centered by the aspirations of unity,” she said.

She noted that Barisan Nasional, which was previously not part of the state government in the Pakatan controlled states of Selangor, Penang and Negeri Sembilan, has now become part of the ruling pact.

“We thank all voters for their support towards the unity aspiration apart from giving their faith on the unity pact to form the government in the three states.

“We are also taking into account all feedback on Barisan Nasional having to improve its performance, approach and implementation of service to the people,” she added.

Selangor, Penang and Negri Sembilan remained under the unity pact while Kedah, Kelantan and Kedah remained under Perikatan rule.

Calls have also grown within Umno for party president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to take responsibility for a disastrous showing in Saturday’s state elections and resign.

Leading the pack was former Terengganu mentri besar Tan Sri Idris Jusoh, who said Umno had been wiped out from all seats in the state.