BERA: Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob wants the party to continue to support him as prime minister to enable him to focus on resolving economic and health issues facing the people.

       The Prime Minister said although the number of Covid-19 cases had dropped and the country's economy was also seen to be recovering, the task was not completed yet.

       "I need support from the party for strength to fight on. The biggest issue is the issue of the people and not the endless politicking. The number of cases is dropping, but the number is still around 4,000. Don't think that we are now completely free from Covid-19 and my responsibility is still a huge one and I have to do it,” he said this when opening the Bera Umno Wanita, Youth and Puteri delegates meeting here on Saturday (Dec 11).

       Ismail Sabri also called on Umno to return to the basics of the party's struggle in uniting the Malay and Muslim communities to ensure the party's victory in the next general election (GE).

       He said Umno’s defeat in the last general election should serve as a reminder to party members on the importance of unity in the party.

       "We formed the government today not because we won the last polls, but because we worked with other parties. We seem to have forgotten that. The original purpose of Umno’s establishment was to unite Muslims and Malays, but the opposite is happening now, with there being several camps and rifts in the party," he said. - Bernama