Umno deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin said the party should be loud and not afraid to uphold the rights of the Malays because the basis of its struggle was to defend the Malays and Islam in the country.

NONE "Now, I see non-governmental organisations are more vocal in fighting for the rights of the Malays, when it is Umno's agenda,” he said, referring to right-wing organisations such as Perkasa and Gertak.

 

"Why are we seen weak? The Malays are not as great as before. So they (Malays) go to other bodies. This is a mistake."

Muhyiddin however said while Umno should continue to fight for the rights of the Malays, but at the same time, it should not deprive the rights of other races in the country.

He also reminded party members to carry out political reforms which is in tandem with the government transformation.

Muhyiddin, who is also the deputy prime minister, said that what he could see now was that Umno was not moving fast enough and this was critical in facing the next general election.

Compared to the government transformation, he said Prime Minister Najib Razak had made radical and extraordinary changes by introducing various initiatives, including the 1Malaysia Concept, Government Transformation Programme and the National Key Result Area (NKRA).

Umno slow in changing

He said the changes made by the government had regained the public confidence in the government under the leadership of Umno and the BN in developing the country after experiencing the 'political tsunami' in the last general election.

"Umno should have changed, but it was slow. Umno is like an old ship. We are not perceived as moving rapidly, so this is more critical if we are to face the 13th general election which is less than three years from now.

“If we (Umno) do not change, there will be people who will change us. They will take over (our role)," he said when opening the Putrajaya Umno delegates meeting last night.

 

Also present was Putrajaya Umno division chief Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor.

Muhyiddin said Umno had not much time and thus, had to make the changes by understanding the needs and aspirations of the people so that they would continue to support the party.

He said the people's demand had now changed and they wanted to see the willingness of Umno and BN leaders to make changes.

That was why, he said, Umno introduced the Juara Rakyat programme so that party leaders and members could understand and were able to help resolve the people's problems.

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