UMNO concluded its annual general assembly on
Saturday on a high note to transform itself into a poilitical party that is
fair to all Malaysians where priority will be to empower the economy of the
Malays and bumiputras who form slightly more than 67 per cent of the
population.
The emphasis will be to ensure that the majority
population will be on par with the economy of others so that there will not be
any single race that would feel left out in the fast growing economic
development of the country.
In doing, the party pledges that other races
would not be sidelined and that the party would continue its fair and just
policies for all Malaysians.
Umno also concluded that the party would protect
the sanctity of Islam by defining clearly in the Federal Constitution that
Malaysia follows the teaching of Sunnah Wal Jamaah.
In facing the next general election, the party’s
political transformation will begin at the party’s branch level where with
immediate effect the branch level will have to follow the party constitution
strictly to strengthen itself.
Party president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had
outlined the transformation programs in the wake of challenges that ‘may not be
good for Umno’ if the party continues to stay as it is.
The political reality now is Umno is the only
flag-bearer of the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) besides Parti Pesaka Bersatu
Sarawak (PBB) in Sarawak while the component parties in Peninsular are still
‘searching for their souls’ after being ‘slaughtered’ in the May 5 general
election.
Called it the Chinese tsunami or whatever terms,
the fact remains that rural Malays are still with Umno while the urban Malays
have swung to the oppositions – PAS and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).
With Umno the only party that is still strong
and ‘standing upright’ amidst the strong winds of change in the May 5 general
election, the responsibility is now on its shoulders to rally Malaysians, not
just Malays, behind the BN.
And the recently concluded general assembly,
Najib, who is also the Prime Minister, spoke on the need for Umno to transform
into an inclusive party, struggling for the Malays and bumputras while same
time ensure other races are not sidelined and feel ‘alien’.
Transformation begins with change in minds and
attitudes of party members and Najib stressed the need for the party to be
strong from its roots – the grassroots – where the some 21,000 branches lie.
Transformation to strengthen the party as
the pillar and backbone of BN where component parties, currently undergoing
healing and rehabilitation, can heal themselves in time to face the next
general election.
In strengthening the party, efforts to ward off
elements that would weaken the party and its followers will have to be
addressed and here is where the sanctity of Islam and the economic aspect
needed push and protection.
The threat of Syiah is real and the ‘heads of
Government Link Companies (GLCs) not helping out Malay and bumiputra
enterpreneurs is real.
With Najib’s commitment to see the two subjects
taken care, Umno is off to a brand new start in transforming itself into a
political party where the Malays and bumiputras can rest assure their support
for the party all this while did not go to waste.
And Malaysians on the whole, can rest easy that
Umno is not only a party for the Malays but for all Malaysians.
No comments:
Post a Comment