KUALA LUMPUR: Ensuring the attendance of all leaders from the 19 component parties in the ruling coalition to the Umno 2023 General Assembly is crucial to signal the strength of the unity government.
Political analyst associate Professor Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi believed that the presence of the party leaders depicts the solid support of the rest of the parties towards Umno.
"The message is clear here. It says, 'If you touch one, you touch all'. It is a message of unity and close relationship between them, on top of the presence of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim during the general assembly," said Awang Azman when contacted today.
Professor Dr Mohd Azizuddin Mohd Sani also raised similar views, stressing the need to get everyone on the same page ahead of the state polls.
He stressed that this should be Umno's top agenda when inviting the various party leaders.
He said it would reflect the solidarity of the component parties being part of the unity government.
"It may seem ceremonial, but it carries weight among the public in the run-up of the state elections," he said.
On the actions of some leaders extending invitations to former or suspended members to attend the general assembly, although, in jest, an analyst said it had left a bad taste in the mouth.
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia's Institute of Ethnic Studies deputy director Professor Dr Kartini Aboo Talib @ Khalid cautioned the invitation made in a mocking manner would not help the party.
"The party is facing a big hurdle to convince voters, especially after the sacking and suspending of a few prominent members," she said.
She also said former party leaders such as ex-youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin and former Selangor Umno liaison committee chairman Tan Sri Noh Omar still had support at the grassroots level.
The Umno 2023 general assembly will be held at the World Trade Centre (WTC) here from June 7 to June 10, with Anwar expected to attend as the guest of honour.
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