By Adib ZalkapliKUALA LUMPUR, Oct 13 — Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said today he did not suggest that Barisan Nasional component parties be dissolved to create a single party.
"I did not suggest that all BN parties should be dissolved. I was suggesting that we must respond to the need of people, many of them want to be associated with the BN," the Prime Minister said when commenting on the remark by Information Minister Datuk Shabery Cheek that the move to turn the BN into a single multiracial party would be akin to dissolving Umno and is a humiliation.
Abdullah, when opening the Gerakan annual general meeting last weekend, suggested direct BN membership in an effort to be more inclusive.
"They want to be part of it, they want to contribute. My response to that is to give them a chance to be direct members of BN, to create what we shall call a forum, a club or a branch. This is something we have to work on," he added.
He said Shabery's remark was made in a different context.
He added that the direct members would complement the role currently played by the BN component parties.
Abdullah, who until his announcement not to defend Umno's presidency last week was under pressure from party leaders to step down, said the government was still strong despite constant threats by the opposition to topple the federal government through defections of BN lawmakers.
"The opposition has been talking about that and they have never succeeded, they think we are fools, but BN members have not left the party," said Abdullah in response to the new deadline, Dec 8, set by opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to take over the government.
"BN was the winner in the last general election and we have a job to do. Our majority is not small, only 12 short of a two-thirds majority," he added. -- TMI
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