Najib: Scrapping Umno wings too drastic

Umno has no plans to abolish its Putera and Puteri wings as suggested by the party’s disciplinary board, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, according to the Star.

“The suggestion is too drastic a measure and would create a huge impact on future leadership,” he said at the launch of the Peugeot 308 here on Thursday.

It would also deprive Umno of the opportunity to build up leaders from within, he said.

The structure for the wings has existed since the beginning and they play an important role, he added.

Najib was responding to Umno disciplinary board chairman Tan Sri Tengku Ahmad Rithauddeen who suggested Umno revamp by abolishing the three main party wings (including Youth and Wanita) and Putera Umno to ensure that corruption within the party was totally eradicated.

If the party is serious in addressing this scourge, he said, Umno should restructure its organisation by abolishing the wings.

“If the problem is with money politics, then it would be better for us to strengthen enforcement and our value system,” Najib said.

Meanwhile, Putera Umno chief Datuk Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim said that Putera is not a wing but a bureau under Umno Youth.

“Putera is still relevant to Umno and should not be abolished as it would only weaken the party,” he said.

“It is an avenue for the younger generation and abolishing it would only alienate them,” he said.

Nevertheless, he said Putera would abide by whatever decision the Umno supreme council makes over the issue.