Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin today stressed that reformation for Barisan Nasional parties was no longer a choice but a matter of political survival.

new america one malaysia khairy jamaluddin tony puah forum 040609 07 "We don't have a choice, this is survival. If we don't change... we are out of business," he told reporters in Kuala Lumpur after the opening of the Umno Youth, Wanita and Puteri wings' general assemblies.

He said all BN component parties must shoulder the responsibility of reforming the ruling coalition and making it relevant in accordance with the current political climate.

Therefore, he added that the task of transformation should be one of teamwork and the burden should not be borne by Umno alone.

"I think that when we talk about change and being relevant in this political age, we cannot take Umno in isolation.

"BN is a family and a team. So if we talk about change and becoming relevant it is important for all of BN to be relevant," he added.

Shahrizat: Hear the people's voice

In view of this, Khairy said it is not only Umno which must change but other component parties must follow suit.

Following the March 8 general election last year, all BN component parties, except for those in Sabah and Sarawak, suffered a setback and are struggling to regain lost ground.

Leadership tussles and credibility crisis have made it an even more daunting task.

shahrizat wanita umno victory 250309 3 Meanwhile, Wanita Umno chief Shahrizat Abdul Jalil also echoed the view, saying: "All BN component parties must be in line with Umno in changing and hearing the voice of the people."

Umno information chief Ahmad Maslan pointed out that if the other BN parties are not prepared to embrace change, then "we won't see real success."

During his opening speech earlier, Umno deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin underscored the importance of reforms in all BN parties.