'SPEECHES OF UMNO PRESIDENTS' CAN BE RESOURCE FOR UMNO MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 13 (Bernama) -- The book 'Speeches of Umno Presidents' can
be a reference source for Umno members and Malaysians in understanding the
process of nation building and developing the Malaysian race, said Prime
Minister Najib Razak.

Najib said 63 years was not a long time for a nation but in that short time
Malaysia had achieved much excellence.

"From a colonised country to a free nation, from an agricultural country to
an industrial one and from a country whose people lived in rural areas to one
where its people lived in towns and were in the middle-class," he said in the
preface to the book.

He said one main reason for the transformation to be realised was that
the Umno (United Malays National Organisation) president since the late Tunku
Abdul Rahman till today was also the prime minister. Umno is the party leading
the ruling National Front coalition or Barisan Nasional (BN).

"In their twin capacity as party leader and head of government, they enabled
the people's aspirations to be achieved through party struggles and to be
translated into government policies," he said.

Najib also said no one could deny Umno's role in the process of developing
democracy and in bringing development to Malaysia and party members today were
very grateful to the six past presidents.

"It is hoped that by outlining the party's struggles through the Umno
presidents' speeches, members in particular, and Malaysians in general, can
understand the dynamic movements to achieve independence, the formation of
Malaysia, the May 13 racial riot tragedy and the formulation of the New Economic
Policy, and how Malaysia's transformation from an agricultural country to an
industrial one could happen," Najib said.

The book launched Monday by Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin compiles
the speeches of all six former Umno presidents in party meetings beginning with
Onn Jaafar (1946-1951) followed by Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj (1951-1971),
Abdul Razak Hussein (1971-1976), Hussein Onn (1976-1981), Dr Mahathir Mohamad
(1981-2003) and Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (2003-2009).

The book published by Berita Publishing Sdn Bhd is sold at RM200 (US$59.05).
-- BERNAMA