DON'T RELY ON NOSTALGIA - MALAYSIAN PM

PEKAN (Malaysia), May 11 (Bernama) -- Najib Razak said the United Malays
National Organization (Umno) could no longer depend on nostalgia and sentiments
of its struggle and service to the nation and people if it wanted to remain
relevant.

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

The Umno president said the party should instead be sensitive to the changes
around it to remain in the hearts of the people.

"Don't just think about the people who support us but also those who don't.
Like in business, we should not just care for our customers, but think why
others do not become our customers," he said when he simultaneously opened the
meetings of the Umno branches in the Pekan division, here, Sunday.

The prime minister, who is also the division chief, said the changed
political landscape compared to when Umno was established required the party to
be brave to bring changes so as to be in tune with the prevailing political
scenario.

Later speaking to reporters, Najib said there were two elements that needed
to be focused on to ensure Umno remained relevant.

"Firstly, our society now is better educated and informed as a result of
the
successes brought by Umno and Barisan Nasional themselves, and secondly, the
generation after independence and major incidents like the May 13 (racial
riots), only learn about these from books or narrations.

"Hence, in this regard, Umno needs to effect changes in terms of thinking,
leadership style, political strategies and approaches, including how we
communicate on the party's policies, and the party's image."

Najib said Umno needed to communicate with the people through the media and
websites, from which young people today were more keen to obtain information
rather than from the mainstream media.

"We also need to change they way we deal with the public, as they want us to
help solve their problems fast. Hence, there's so much for us to do."

Najib said all Umno leaders had been told to attend to all groups and not
just Umno members, and help solve their problems. "Umno must represent all
groups in society," he added.


Asked about support from young people, Najib said they were like a piece of
white cloth, so they needed to be told the truth in order to shape their
thinking so that they would not be easily swayed by the propaganda of certain
quarters.

"It is up to us. If we give them the correct information, they will support
us. But if we spin the information and fail to tell them the truth, they will be
influenced by our adversaries even if the stories are untrue.

"All said, what is really important is for Umno to be courageous to effect
reforms in order to remain relevant," he said.

-- BERNAMA