Umno's extraordinary general meeting (EGM) on Thursday will only constitute "one part of a longer journey" to rebuild its strength and regain public confidence.

In saying this, Selangor Umno information chief Abdul Syukor Idrus noted that support for both Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) had been eroded in the last general election.

Speaking to Malaysiakini , he said he hoped the proposed amendments to be discussed at the EGM will restore Umno's strength.

The EGM is being convened to debate amendments to the constitution, repeal the quota system for nominations, and allow divisions greater influence in the election of the party leadership.

muhyiddin yasin muhyiddin yassin Umno deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin ( right ) is scheduled to open the meeting of all three wings concurrently - Wanita, Pemuda and Puteri - in Kuala Lumpur tonight.

The wings will hold their meetings tomorrow, followed by the EGM on Thursday and the annual general assembly (AGM) on Friday.

Abdul Syukor further cautioned members and leaders not to forget other equally vital tasks, saying attention must be given to these during the AGM. The most important need is to think of the best way of rekindling non-Malay support for BN.

He said members must be ready to accept the fact that the majority of new and young voters, especially in urban areas, have shown a preference for the opposition, he said.

This was demonstrated in the last general election when the opposition won more state and parliamentary seats in both urban and suburban areas.

Pakatan Rakyat won 11 of the 13 parliamentary seats in the Federal Territories, and took control of Kedah, Selangor, Perak (which has since reverted to BN), Pulau Pinang and Kelantan.

Abdul Syukor attributed some of the defeats to the conduct of certain grassroots leaders who had embarked on a "campaign of sabotage" - said to be in more than 20 seats - because they were not selected as election candidates.

"Only after this did regret start to sink in. Pakatan won not because it is strong, but because Umno and Barisan were divided," he said.

"The habit of throwing political tantrums must be excised."

' Credit goes to Isa'

He further reminded Umno leaders not to get carried away by BN's landslide win in the Bagan Pinang by-election last Sunday.

NONE Former Umno vice-president Isa Samad ( left ) won the state seat with 8,013 votes, defeating Zulkefly Mohd Omar of PAS who obtained 2,578 votes.

Isa's majority was double that garnered by BN in the seat in the last general election. BN also led in all polling districts including Pekan Sillau, Ladang Atherton and Sua Betong which PAS had taken last year.

After BN's losing streak in all but one of the previous by-elections called, he said that victory in Bagan Pinang cannot be used as a yardstick of resurgent electoral support.

Much of the credit for the victory, he added, must be given to Isa whose popularity won over voters.