United, national and loyalty - are the three foundations of strength which have enabled Umno, the sacred party of the Malays established on May 11, 1946, to become the world's most successful political party so far, according to its president Najib Abdul Razak.

Najib, who is prime minister, said apart from the foundations, the secret of the party's strength was on its full name, United Malay National Organisation, which formed the acronym, Umno.

"The word 'united' in the name is the first key of our success. And the second key is when we broke the walls of parochialism... when we no longer struggle in small groups, but instead we made it a national struggle.

"With that, we obtained strength, extraordinary strength, the strength to be reckoned with even by the colonial power, to the extent they had to surrender the land to us, the Malaysians led by Umno and our friends in BN, to take control of the country's leadership," he said at the 70th Umno anniversary celebration at the PWTC in Kuala Lumpur last night.

Najib was accompanied by his wife Rosmah Mansor.

Also present were Umno vice-presidents Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Hishammuddin Hussein, secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, heads of Umno Youth, Puteri and Wanita, as well as representatives of BN component parties.

Najib said many had asked him what was the secret or formula adopted by Umno to be able to get reelected by the people and retain power in the country for so long.

"We don't need to look that far. The foundations are united, national and loyalty. And I would like to add, lifelong loyalty, that is to be loyal to Umno at all times, in all situation, even when we disagree, even when we have different opinion," he said.

'I will not betray Umno'

Najib explained that there was no political party in the world which had not experienced domestic crisis and disputes.

"However, we must have discipline in the party, and the discipline must come with our love and loyalty to the party... that is why I said that if one day I had a dispute with my successor, I will not leave Umno.

"... because Umno is the party that has done so much for the Malays, for Malaysians, for my family and for myself. I will not betray Umno for as long as I shall live," he said.

Najib also expressed thanks and gratitude to Umno partners in the BN which had helped Umno in ruling the country.

The party president also cut a glutinous rice cake as a symbol of Umno's 70th anniversary celebration.

He also presented party's donation to the next-of-kin of two Umno MPs Noriah Kasnon (Sungai Besar) and Wan Mohammad Khairil Anuar Wan Ahmad (Kuala Kangsar) who perished in the helicopter crash in Sarawak on May 5.

- Bernama