PM OPENS UMNO GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2010

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 (Bernama) -- The United Malays National Organisation (Umno)
General Assembly 2010 began Thursday with the official opening by party
president Najib Razak in Dewan Merdeka, Putra World Trade Centre, here.

The opening ceremony began with a parade and raising of the Umno flag at Dataran
Putra at 8.30am, followed by the policy speech delivered by Najib, who is also
prime minister, in Dewan Merdeka before 4,907 delegates.

A dinner function to mark the general assembly will be held in Dewan Tun Razak I
at 8pm.

The Umno general assembly this time is held for five days beginning
yesterday with the simultaneous opening of the party's Wanita, Youth and Puteri
assemblies by Umno deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also deputy prime
minister. Umno currently leads the ruling National Front (Barisan Nasional).

In conjunction with this year's general assembly, a two-day international
seminar on "Creating Global Citizens: Media Liberalisation and New Political
Realities" was held from Monday.

Such a forum, held for the first time, had some 400 participants including 63
from 22 political parties in 20 countries and 54 Umno overseas club members, as
well as political analysts.