Kedah Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir said that Umno will cease to be relevant unless it sheds its image as a "patronage party".

Speaking at the opening of the Cheras Umno division annual general meeting, Mukhriz said this image was perpetuated by those outside the party.

"(It is not limited to) the top leadership; there is patronage even at the bottom. We must consider why we get involved in this party.

"Are we involved (in Umno) for religion, race, and country, which we always talk about, or does it involve patronage because sometimes it cannot be avoided?

"There are members who ask, 'What is in it for me?' " said Mukhriz.

He said that when party members ask such questions, party leaders would feel compelled to gratify them for self-preservation.

"Thus (leaders) would entertain these questions, such as, 'what is in it for me?', which means that we will help our members, not because they would serve the public but instead support us," he said.

Protect the party

He said there is a danger if party leaders are unable to differentiate between serving the public and indulging in patronage.

"My concern is that the public would no longer see us as relevant if we only look out for ourselves.

"Thus, we have to understand this and protect our party from its image of patronage," he said.

However, he stressed that all political parties are affected by patronage politics and not just Umno.

"The opposition surely practices patronage as well [...] It is not exclusive to Umno. All parties experience patronage.

"Be it DAP, PKR, PAS, Pasma, or whoever," he told a press conference later.