In the last day of the 56th Umno general assembly today, delegates will be tabling and debating on religion and education - two vital matters that will surely raise the emotions of the delegates.

Traditionally, while debating these two matters, delegates have never been shy of criticising the party leaders for unfavourable government policies that have impact on the Malays.

And at most times, opposition party PAS have been in the receiving end in all religion debates

Today, the same can be expected with the delegates speaking about Islam Hadhari, the radical Islam espoused by PAS as well as on Ayah Pin's Sky Kingdom .

On the education debate, delegates are expected to raise the issues of eligible Malay students being denied places at the local public universities as a result of the meritocracy policy implemented by the government.

As it is, some delegates have already asked the government to scrap the meritocracy policy if it causes a decline in the number of Malay students in critical courses.

Later in the afternoon, Prime Minister and Umno president Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Deputy Prime Minister and Umno deputy president Najib Abdul Razak and several other leaders of the supreme council are scheduled to wind up the debate and respond to matters raised during the two-day debate.

Change in mindset

Yesterday the issue on the empowerment of Malays in the economy dominated the debate, which is attended by 2,533 party members.

Later in evening yesterday, Umno Pahang delegate Mohd Arif Sabery Abd Aziz said that the two factors that are keeping the Malays from improving are their lack of self-belief and failure to adept to changes.

"The Malays are restricted to the norms which were inherited and later passed on to other generations," he said.

He also added that the failure of the Malays to gain more skills and all round technical know-how are among the main causes for their failure in successful business ventures.