Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak today implored Umno to accept reforms efforts or face an Arab Spring style revolt.

"When you have been in power for such a long uninterrupted period, you have a sense of political invincibility, you may think that no matter what happens, you will be in power.

"But no matter how successful you have been or how much the country's successes is due to your effort, today's landscape is different.

"People and voters today want to know about today and the future," he said during a pre-Umno General Assembly international forum.

Drawing examples from the Arab Spring that has swept the Middle East, Najib reiterated his earlier message that Umno has to change or be changed.

"This is a truism. Look what has happened in the context of Arab Spring. In North Africa, four regimes have already changed (in a year)."

'Change has begun'

The premier expressed confidence that his government has already charted a path of change with its transformation programmes.

"What has happened in the context of the Arab Spring and many other countries, change is coming from bottom up. In Malaysia, change is coming from top to bottom.

"But top down in the sense that we are listening to the people. I started by saying that the day of government knows best is over... We must feel the pulse of the people."

Najib also defended his transformation programmes against criticism, stressing that change does not come overnight.

"We are proud of the fact that once again Umno is reinventing itself, once again, Umno is ahead of the curve."

'We are the best for the nation'

However, the premier said it was essential for Umno and BN to win the next general election in order to continue with its transformation programmes.

"We have a little challenge ahead of us, we have to cross the bridge to the next general election... It is very important to be re-elected for us to bring real transformation.

"We need the support of the people for what we must work and show the people, it is not what we've done in the past. It is because we are best for the nation, now and in the future."

The forum today was entitled 'The Politics of Ecoonomic and Social Transformation in the Era of Global Crisis' which was attended by over 40 ambassadors from across the globe.