The party’s acting president said Umno will focus on strengthening the party by championing the causes of the people, organising new strategies to win the next general election and to reorganise the party’s operations.

“Efforts to strengthen the party will be our core business.

“We want to be a credible and effective opposition,” he told a press conference after chairing his first Umno Supreme Council meeting at PWTC here this evening.

Mohamad, who was elected deputy president in party polls in July, took over duties as president from Zahid on Dec 18.

Over the past week, Umno has lost many of its MPs, assemblymen and divisional leaders who mostly blamed their exit from Umno on the party president, saying there was a lack of direction in the party.

Commenting on this, Mohamad felt the exodus had come to an end. He said he will be meeting all Umno MPs to ensure they are comfortable with the current party leadership and they stay on in Umno to serve the people.

“We want to stop the haemorrhaging. The pressure and rumours seem to be on the decline.”

Mohamad also said the Umno Supreme Council had agreed to give full autonomy powers to Sabah Umno in making its own decisions.

“We want the Umno state liaison chiefs to draft their own strategies. That means Umno’s strategies in Kelantan will differ from other states,” he said.

On the death of fireman Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim in a temple fracas in Subang Jaya, Mohamad urged the Pakatan Harapan government to sack P Waytha Moorthy as minister in the Prime Minister’s Department.

He urged the government to set up a royal commission of inquiry to investigate the cause of death and to ensure justice was served.

He also announced Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail, who is also the Pahang menteri besar, as Barisan Nasional election director for the upcoming Cameron Highlands by-election.

Mohamad also said BN had yet to decide on the candidate.