UMNO Youth Exco, Bastien Onn said, the prospect and potential of a genuine and much needed platform for Malay unity is something which people failed to see and fully appreciate.
He said, history has dictated that the core for a stable and fair government is unity. The first and most important steps are Malay and bumiputera unity.
“It's important for all parties in PN to be able to sit together and focus on managing issues pertaining to the people.
"The rumours in Johor and the news being trumpeted by Liew Chin Tong does not reflect that.
"Such rumours are not helpful and doesn't represent the aspiration of all UMNO members,” he said in a statement.
Bastien said, this is the moment for PN to bring Malaysian to come together.
“We now have thousands of COVID19 positive cases and nearly 100 death from the COVID19 pandemic. Our economy are devasted, some businesses have closed for good while others are at the brink of full closure and millions of jobs could be lost.
“All parties formed PN with the sole objective of bringing stability to the Malaysian government. UMNO brought along our old partners in BN as well as its new partner in Muafakat Nasional, Pas.
"Together all parties involved agreed to work with Bersatu and PKR elements who had previously working with Pakatun Harapan not just in bringing down Barisan Nasional but also destroying the good structure of our political system in 2018,” he said.
He said, Bersatu needs to recuperate and show its sincerity.
“As a youth leader, I want to focus on the big picture, but there's a lot of things that hurt our feelings in UMNO amid decreasing patience for PN.
“My colleagues wanted to engage Malaysians directly with the aim take back the electoral power so that together we can build Malaysia to emerge not just from this pandemic but also the masses left behind by Pakatun Harapan .
“We should be a more balanced, a more united coalition that works in perfect harmony so that we can face the post COVID19 challenges in building Malaysia's economy. Our voters wanted a united Malaysia that is resilient to embrace the new post pandemic world,” he said.
Bastien, who is also the Segamat UMNO Youth chief said, Malay unity was the foundation of Malaysian unity and prosperity for more than 50 years under UMNO and BN.
“All Malaysian know this. Let us rebalance PN, so that all of our members can focus on developing the country.
"UMNO Youth members, and many young Malays as well as young Malaysians of other races are willing to contribute to the country.
“We are now in a pause because of COVID-19 and MCO. But are we ready for the after effects of COVID19 which is the recession and perhaps maybe the economic depression - both locally and globally after MCO has been lifted?
“This is the time for unity as we need to plan ahead and table out policies to assist Malaysian from all spectrum of life especially the B40 and the M40. Our people are crucially in need of food security as much as they need job security,” he said.
Bastien also expressed his worries on the wellbeing of the younger generation which also needs to be assisted.
“Their education have been disrupted. Those who are graduating are feeling hopeless about the job market.
“Most of them took study loans & are afraid that they won't be able to repay the debts. Even for those who are in their late 20s and early 30s who have just started a family are still struggling to pay off their study loans. So how do we help them to paddle thru the economic crisis?
“I've went to the ground & have spoken to them. Government needs to collect more feedback, get things organised to assist in relieving our younger generation from the painstaking life they are in at the moment.
"We also need to work with all our business community, to include all the big and small enterprises to ensure that they have what it takes to be confident of the future while retaining their workers,” he said.
The previous BN government leaders are rich with experience. Combined with the nations technocrats who are in possessed of sufficient technical know-how, we will be able to maneuver the country well.
“We have the personal ties. We can work with players from all sectors to not just give hope buat also to save jobs."
“As a part of the nations next generation of leaders I would like to stress here that it is crucial for all of us regardless of our background, to work together in finding a common ground for the sake of the Rakyat. Bickering over positions, contracts and recognition should be the last thing in our minds.
“UMNO was also born out of the merger of various parties in the spirit of Malay survival and unity. Such spirit and sense of working together for the greater good has to be the guiding principle for all. No place for egos, baggage and personal interest,” he said.
Bastien said, as a government, PN also must continue helping everyone paddling slowly and safely back into reality.
