Barisan Nasional (BN) must go back to the grass root and understand the wishes of the people if it wanted to remain in power, Gerakan president Dr Lim Keng Yaik said today.

Citing Malaysia's historical struggle with communist insurgence as an example, he said that in whatever struggle, the hearts and minds of the people must first be won.

"Power and guns are not the only things to win a war with. We must also win their hearts and minds," he said.

"By going back to the people, talking to them and understanding them, we will retain power forever and ever," added Lim.

Lim who is also the primary industries minister, was speaking at the BN convention held at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) in Kuala Lumpur.

The leader also called for a non-racial approach and asked BN's ethnic-based parties not to limit themselves to issues of a particular race.

"Why should Umno go into a kampung? I can go into a kampung as well. If MCA goes into Kampung Medan (the site of a recent communal clash), why can't I? If parties in East Malaysia can go into long houses why can't I?," asked Lim.

"We all have to go together. Then only will the people of Malaysia have confidence in the BN formula, then only can we have a true Bangsa Malaysia (Malaysian race)," he added.

'Auta' front

Lim also had the 3000-odd audience in guffaws when he lambasted the opposition front, Barisan Alternatif.

"What are they? They are just a copy front, why do they call themselves BA? Does it stand for Barisan Auta ?" ( Auta is a local colloquial term for trickery)

"We have on one hand the unity that the BN has built and on the other, you have PAS which wants to destroy it all. This is what we need to defend against PAS," he added.

Meanwhile, MCA president Dr Ling Liong Sik during his speech said that BN's electoral victories since the mid-70's were due to the precedence it paid to national unity and development.

However, he said that BN should also plan for the next 50 years so that it may make preparations to face the challenges which lay ahead.

"The key to BN victories is its willingness to make changes according to the times thus allowing it to be able to meet the needs of the people," said Ling who is also the transport minister.

Accessible leaders

MIC president S Samy Vellu also called for new and innovative methods to gain faith amongst the grass roots.

"Political leaders must be more accessible to ordinary people by creating avenues of interaction, direct contact and mobilisation. Here lies the secret of political power," he explained.

Samy who is also the works minister said that without new ideas, the present government ran the risk of alienating 'ordinary people'.

"Politics must be invigorated by promoting a new agenda that interacts more with people and inspires a new generation of people," he added.

He said the government should also set up a new unit within the prime minister's department which could articulate 'the pulse of the people'.

"Its modus operandi would be to identify, monitor and draw out implications with specific reference to sensitive racial, cultural and religious feelings and concerns of ordinary people," he said.