Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said today there was a need for Umno to expedite its process of renewal immediately to regain the confidence of the people.

He said the political renewal should be carried out before the next general election or the party's political strength would come under threat.

"The political transformation process is rather slow.

muhyiddin yassin umno deputy president 260309 "We should provide for the people's needs so that what the people want is implemented," he said when opening the Jeli Umno Division delegates meeting in Jeli.

Muhyiddin said the renewal in the government helmed by the BN had been implemented successfully.

Muhyiddin said many changes had been made in terms of renewal in the BN government, including channelling various forms of aid to the people to help with education, eradication of poverty and raising the number of bumiputera entrepreneurs.

He said the people also wanted the BN government to tackle immediately issues pertaining to corruption, crime and education.

"The government attended to all these matters and has taken immediate measures," he said.

Leaders are not sensitive

Muhyiddin said the national political scenario had changed over the last three years, with Umno and the BN facing a political setback and having lost several states to the opposition and the two-third majority in parliament.

He said the people had become well-informed with the presence of the Internet which could channel information fast.

He said the people were wise enough to evaluate their leaders based on the input they received even though Umno and the BN had championed their plight for years.

"There is a perception that we have been in power for too long, that leaders are not sensitive to the people's needs and no longer entertain them, and do not know what is happening on the ground because we have become complacent.

"Therefore, in a general election, they do not support us. I am saying this to remind myself that sustaining political power does not take place only at state level but also at the national level.

"With the developments in the society, the situation demands that Umno institute a renewal.

"Otherwise, in the general election in 2013, it may not be possible to defend the scenario we are familiar with now," he said.

At a news conference later, Muhyiddin said leaders in Umno should not remain oblivious to what was going on in the party.

"They should endear themselves to the people. They should find ways to solve the people's problems," he said.

Muhyiddin said all grassroots leaders should focus on implementing the renewal, adding that he was confident the renewal could be effected before the next general election.

He said the renewal was not just in Umno but was also being implemented by the other BN component parties.

- Bernama