UMNO grassroots must be open to the presence of party representatives from the unity government, especially Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, at the Umno general assembly taking place for four days from this Wednesday, party’s Supreme Council member Ahmad Maslan said.

He said this was because the move to invite representatives from the 19 political parties in the government, including the Pakatan Harapan chairman, was in preparation for the six state elections.

“In such a coalition, we must be open to receiving the presence of leaders, because we are preparing for a bigger political battle: the six state polls,” he told a media conference at the Johor Umno liaison office in Johor Baru yesterday.

Ahmad, who is also Johor liaison committee deputy chairman, said this when asked if the presence of the presidents of the unity government coalition political parties at this year’s Umno general assembly would cause discontent among the grassroots.

Apart from Anwar, other party leaders who have confirmed their attendance are Warisan president Mohd Shafie Apdal and Gabungan Parti Sarawak chairman Abang Johari Openg.

Meanwhile, Ahmad urged the Youth, Women and Puteri wings to focus on issues such as the preparation for the state polls, problems plaguing Kelantan and Terengganu and the claim that Penang belongs to Kedah.

“This is just a suggestion, I cannot order. But I hope the assembly will be used as the arena for the opening of the state polls, besides highlighting the success of the states under the leadership of the unity government, like Negri Sembilan, Selangor and Penang,” he said. – Bernama, June 5, 2023.