Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak appealed for unity in his ruling party as thousands of members met in the capital amid tensions over a funding scandal that have festered for months.
The political temperature is much higher than past annual United Malays National Organisation meetings, Najib -- who is party president -- said on Facebook before delivering a closed-door speech to the gathering. The congress should be a platform for UMNO to bolster its commitment to staying relevant, he said.
"We want to be the image that we project of the party to be of a party that is in charge, that we are a responsible party that can safeguard our interests," he said.
The real picture is murkier as Najib fights to stay in power after revelations in July that 2.6 billion ringgit ($865 million) appeared in his private accounts before the 2013 general election. He’s faced accusations of wrongdoing by the opposition and some UMNO members and calls to quit. The turmoil has periodically dented the ringgit.
The gathering of officials from UMNO, a party that has its power base rooted in the ethnic Malay majority, is being closely watched for whether divisional chiefs continue to support Najib. The powerful nearly-200 strong grouping has generally backed him, though that endorsement may be eroded if Najib is seen as a political liability heading into the next general election, which must be held by 2018.
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The political temperature is much higher than past annual United Malays National Organisation meetings, Najib -- who is party president -- said on Facebook before delivering a closed-door speech to the gathering. The congress should be a platform for UMNO to bolster its commitment to staying relevant, he said.
"We want to be the image that we project of the party to be of a party that is in charge, that we are a responsible party that can safeguard our interests," he said.
The real picture is murkier as Najib fights to stay in power after revelations in July that 2.6 billion ringgit ($865 million) appeared in his private accounts before the 2013 general election. He’s faced accusations of wrongdoing by the opposition and some UMNO members and calls to quit. The turmoil has periodically dented the ringgit.
The gathering of officials from UMNO, a party that has its power base rooted in the ethnic Malay majority, is being closely watched for whether divisional chiefs continue to support Najib. The powerful nearly-200 strong grouping has generally backed him, though that endorsement may be eroded if Najib is seen as a political liability heading into the next general election, which must be held by 2018.
Click Here To Register For Free Trial Services OR Give A Missed Call : +6531581402 Follow Us On Twitter : www.twitter.com/epicresearchsg Like Us On Facebook : www.facebook.com/EpicResearchSingapore Need Any Assistance Feel Free To Mail Us at : info@epicresearch.sg
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