The Umno vice-president, who also assumes the duties of deputy president, said as the opposition in Penang, Umno and BN did not translate their roles well enough into their work.
“We were hit twice in the previous general elections. The feel of BN being an opposition has yet to be felt by the Penang people. Umno, Gerakan, MCA, MIC and other component parties in BN still feel comfortable because Putrajaya is still controlled by BN and Najib Razak is still the prime minister.
“It is time for us to rise, to close ranks and win Penang back. We are pressured with various issues, pushed to the wall with various problems. I see that we, the DNA in BN, are patient, (but) it has its limits,” he said when opening the Tasek Gelugor Umno divisional delegates’ conference.
Zahid said although BN only had 10 state seats and three parliamentary seats in Penang, it could be used as a benchmark for the party to move and work with non-governmental organisations to win back the state from the DAP.
Zahid said the DAP-led state government had on too many occasions denied BN’s prior contributions to the state and it was now time for BN to hit back at them for the sake of the people in the state.
“Too many issues on the previous state government have been denied by the (present) state government, who are enjoying the fruits of Gerakan’s hard work,” he said.
He said the contributions of past leaders however were never forgotten by Umno.
“When the time for a certain leader has passed, let go. We respect the old timers, but they should love the new leaders. When they give way to the people after them, their deeds will be remembered,” he said, adding that he regarded former Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as the best example of a leader who did not criticise Umno and BN when he no longer held any post.
Zahid however cautioned certain quarters against trying to pit him against Najib.
“My wala’ (loyalty) should not be questioned. I am in Umno, and have held a position in the (Umno) youth movement because of Najib. I have been with Najib for a long time – since Oct 1, 1987 when I was appointed his political secretary.
“InsyaAllah, the wala’ will remain until the end of my life,” he said.
Touching on the Tasek Gelugor parliamentary constituency, Zahid said he regarded it as a “fixed deposit” for BN and called on Umno leaders in the division to work hard to increase the vote majority there in the coming general election.