KUALA LUMPUR – The Perak branch of UMNO has described the early launch of election machinery by PAS for the 16th General Election (GE16) as a positive development that serves as a necessary “alarm clock” for its own members.
Perak UMNO Chairman and Menteri Besar, Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad, stated that rather than feeling pressured by their political rivals’ head start, the move is expected to energize UMNO’s machinery, which may have previously been in a dormant or standby state.
“It is a good thing because when PAS begins their launch, UMNO’s machinery will naturally wake up. Otherwise, they might stay asleep,” Saarani remarked during the Perak State Government’s Customer Appreciation Day program held at Stadium Indera Mulia on Thursday.
A Strategic Advantage Last Sunday, Perak PAS officially kicked off its GE16 operations in Lenggong, an event attended by top party leaders including Deputy President Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man and Vice President Datuk Idris Ahmad.
Responding to the event, Saarani expressed gratitude toward PAS, noting that their actions unintentionally assisted UMNO and Barisan Nasional (BN) by injecting a sense of urgency among the grassroots.
“I view it positively. There is no issue at all. I simply want to say thank you because they have successfully helped stir the UMNO machinery into action,” he added.
Focusing on Internal Strength When questioned about alleged internal friction within the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition—specifically between PAS and Bersatu—Saarani emphasized that UMNO remains focused on its own house.
He reiterated that UMNO President Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has instructed all party levels to prioritize internal consolidation. Saarani stressed that the party’s strategy for the upcoming election would rely on its own merits rather than the potential weaknesses of its opponents.
“We do not know if others are weak or strong, but we must ensure that if we win, we win based on our own strength,” he explained.
To prepare for GE16, clear directives have been issued to all divisions to focus on strengthening organizational structures and grassroots machinery across the state.
