KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 20 — Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak today called on his party to adopt a paradigm shift in order to win over the non-Malays, by solving the problems of all Malaysians regardless of race.
“Why are they not looking for Umno to solve their problems? Why are they going to the opposition?” Najib asked when opening the Wanita Umno Convention at the Putra World Trade Centre, here this afternoon.
The prime minister said that Malaysia’s success was dependent on political stability and Malay leadership, in line with his 1 Malaysia concept.
“We must take care of others races so they will respect us.”
He pointed out that in a parliamentary democracy, the people had the ultimate power and that was why Umno needed to gain the support of all races.
Najib called on Wanita Umno to be the catalyst of change and accepted their commitment, made earlier by their chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, to be the pulse of transformation and innovation for the nation.
He commended the determination of the Wanita Umno delegates, whom he said had woken up from the nightmare of Election 2008 when the Umno-led Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition lost its traditional two-thirds majority in parliament and five states to the opposition.
He said to be agents of change, Umno needed to start from within by rejecting all that was negative, such as being obsessed with positions.
Najib said there was no point for members to strive to become division, state or national leaders if Umno itself loses power.
He pointed out that, in the past, many have come to him seeking positions by claiming a loss of face if they did not get what they wanted.
“But it’s not about you, it’s about the party,” Najib stressed.
This new culture in Umno, he said, would enable BN to emerge stronger in the next general election.
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