THREE PHASES OF UMNO RECOVERY PROCESS - PM

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 (Bernama) -- Umno will have to undergo three phases of
recovery in order to continue shouldering the responsibility of building the
future and empowering the Malay, Umno president Najib Razak said.

First and foremost, the prime minister said, Umno (United Malays National
Organisation) should acknowledge weaknesses and problems faced by the party,
engage in soul-searching to find the remedies, and thirdly, to launch an
efficient party machinery.

Delivering his keynote address at the 2010 Umno General Assembly at Putra World
Trade Centre here today, Najib said: "It is important that the party goes
through these phases in an orderly and organised manner."

"Otherwise," he said, "all the changes and transformation plans will not come to
a successful fruition."

In the speech which revolves around the theme of empowering the race towards
prosperity, Najib called on the Malays to work hard to build their capacity and
capability to defend their rights and not resort to "beating the chest" and
proclaiming that they should be successful because it was their right to be
successful.

"Like it or not, the Malays of this century should face the reality in order to
achieve success. What is the use of quota, reserves and permits if these are
taken for granted. What is the use of opportunities if they are pawned for
short-term gains," he said.

He told the delegates and observers that the Malays were not lacking in anything
and that they had all the capabilities to become what he called "glocal Malays"
who were able to compete with the strongest and the best, and become top
achievers in the international arena.

"I, as Umno president, will not accept any more excuses that the Malays are weak
because of almost five decades of colonialisation.

"I, as Umno president, and fellow leaders of the party, do not want to see the
Malays waiting for handouts, or becoming complacent and be content with the
notion that they can achieve only so much," said the prime minister.

He stressed that the battle of today was the battle of the minds and that those
with knowledge and the ability to control information would have the might to
influence their surroundngs.

Najib said that to face challenges, Umno would be steadfast in its struggle for
the race, religion and country through concrete initiatives, policies and
programmes.

"Umno will not forsake the Malays, Umno will not let them be sidelined and
become wanderers in their own country.

"We are committed not only to doing our best but also doing the right thing for
the Malays. We cannot afford to be lulled by our past," he said, adding that
Umno was not only facing external challenges but also from among some sections
of the Malays themselves whom he said were "willing to pawn everything for the
sake of gaining power."

The lessons from all these, said Najib, were that Umno members should not lose
hope or feel slighted.

"We as party members cannot afford to lose hope; we should not let Umno be
destroyed," he said.

The prime minister also said that not many were aware that what Malaysia
achieved in the past 53 years was also due to the contributions and leadership
of the Malays.

"Therefore, we were feeling a bit uneasy when of late there were efforts trying
to belittle the achievement of the Malays, spreading lies and accusations," he
said.

He also defended the public service, saying that if it were not competent, the
country would have become a failed state and not a vibrant industrialised nation
as it was today.

"We acknowledge that there are weaknesses but we are also capable of rising
above these weaknesses based on our own strength and our own way without having
to depend on outside help," he said.
-- BERNAMA