NAJIB ENVISIONS CHANGES TO UMNO CONSTITUTION AS PART OF REFORMS

KUALA LUMPUR, March 23 (Bernama) -- The United Malays National Organization
(Umno) deputy president Najib Razak said changes to Umno's constitution were
possible in the reformation of the party.

UMNO is a right-wing party and Malaysia's largest political party; a
founding member of the National Front (Barisan Nasional-BN) coalition, which has
been Malaysia's ruling political party since independence.

He said the party's organisational structure and policies also needed to be
revamped in re-positioning Umno in line with the current needs of the people and
to countering the negative perception people had of Umno.

"Change must take place in Umno itself so that the negative perception can
be eliminated. For this reason, the election process of Umno's leaders also
needs to be reviewed.

"We must do something in a serious way, and dare to make changes. I am
confident if we take this path, support for Umno and the Barisan Nasional will
return and we can be back to where we were previously.

"So, internal changes in Umno need to be tackled first and after that
government policies and approaches in the direction we intend to take to fulfill
the aspirations of the people. This is what we will have to strive for," he said
when interviewed on the Dialog@1 programme on Radio Television Malaysia's TV1
channel at the Putra World Trade Centre here tonight.

Radio Television Malaysia or RTM is a Malaysian government-owned public
broadcaster which owns and operates a number of radio and television stations in
Malaysia.



He expected the changes to Umno's constitution to take place before the
party's polls in the coming years.

Najib, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, also wanted Umno delegates to
the
party's general assembly this week to only return leaders who were capable and
willing to serve with integrity, credibility and loyalty.

"I hope they will choose leaders based on the party's interest and not
self-interest.

"If we go for this attribute, I am sure it will signal the beginning of the
reform process for Umno," he said.

He said in reforming itself, Umno, which is also the lynchpin of the BN,
must also be willing to give room to the component parties in the coalition to
forward their views and needs on the basis of the power sharing concept the BN
practised.

"If they are unable to deliver, they will lose credibility among the ethnic
groups they are representing," he said.

Najib, who will be taking over the leadership of the nation after the
assembly which will begin Monday and end on Saturday, said he did not see
himself enjoying a honeymoon period as the political situation in the country
and the current world economic crisis would not allow it.

He said every move he will be make will be scrutinised under a "microscope"
from the very first day.

"Nevertheless, I believe the people will give me a chance to prove myself,"
he said, adding that his Cabinet lineup and first address as the prime minister
would be the initial yardsticks they would measure him by.

-- BERNAMA