Umno deputy president Najib Abdul Razak today made a clarion call to the party cadres to battle for an even bigger victory in the upcoming polls.

He said that although the date for the next general election was privy only to the party president and Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, nevertheless it was time for all Umno members to start preparing for the elections.

"That preparedness certainly does not mean making new bush jackets or baju kurung in anticipation of becoming candidates. Nor does it include whispering campaigns, jostling against one another and moving about to and fro bringing along one's resume to lobby for candidacy.

"Indeed, as far as candidacy is concerned, our attitude should be one of acceptance. If we are chosen, well and good; if not, then so be it, for there is always wisdom behind every decision," he said.

The deputy prime minister was speaking at the joint opening of the ruling party's general assembly of the Umno Wanita, Pemuda and Puteri wings at the Dewan Merdeka, Putra World Trade Centre last night.

The theme of his speech at this year's meeting was 'Reaching for the Stars - Elevating a National Civilisation'.

"The political radar is clear and the political heat is getting hotter. We must be prepared... don't just let your plans leave hanging as a report or on the softboards in your service centres.

"We are confident of winning in the next general election. We showed these in the by-elections held immediately after the 2004 general election," he added in a speech which ran for almost an hour and 30 minutes.

"Our confidence in repeating our sterling success in the by-elections is not without basis," he said, adding that it stemmed from the defeat of PAS in the Kuala Berang and Pengkalan Pasir by-elections, DAP in Machap, PKR in Ijok and the independent candidate in Batu Talam.

Najib said every single victory, with impressive majorities, was due to the people's resounding support for Umno and the BN.

In a speech peppered with issues ranging from changing the Malay mindset to organ transplants, from money politics to economic upliftment and the New Economic Policy, Najib said it was also important for the Malay race to elevate the national civilisation.

Achieving a dream

Citing the successful venture of astronaut Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Sheikh Mustapha to space last month, Najib said a space nation should rightly mean a nation that was "elevated and highly evolved".

"In the era of globalisation, it is not even sufficient to 'internationalise' the Malays. We must go a step further to elevate them and push them to reach for the stars. Everything begins with dreaming big, and today we inch closer towards making our dreams as a nation, a reality," he added.

"We must explore and excavate the farthest reaches of science and technology, we must enhance ourselves with knowledge and skills, we must muster languages and spawn innovation, we must strengthen our faith, we must adopt culture of excellence and we must keep our aspirations high - as high as the heaven," he added.

He said to reach for the stars was to strive for the highest achievements possible in everything that was undertaken.

"Certainly, reaching for the stars is not about the literal act of going into space, although that in itself is an achievement in science. Rather, it is about daring to dream the impossible dream and then pursuing it relentlessly," he said.

Najib said the Malays should now be able to envision the glorious civilisation which they aspired.

"Now to move forward we need to have a roadmap and know the milestones. We need good planning and effective implementation to ensure our success," he said.

He added that the government would continue to study and explore possibilities in the frontiers of space and aerospace science.

"This effort is not merely about one man ascending the cosmos. This is about the dreams of one nation reaching for the stars," he said.

On building civilisation, he said elevating a national civilisation was in line with the vision of Umno president Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who wanted the party to embrace Islam Hadhari, a reference for others and a benchmark of success against which the world would measure itself.

Wanting a bigger share

Najib also reminded the Malays to be more actively involved in economic activities so as to ensure equitable wealth distribution.

"The sharing of power among the races in the country should not be limited to the political realm but should also include the sharing of economic power. We have no intention of taking away the rights of others but all we ask for is a bigger share of an economic pie that is obviously expanding.

"This is part and parcel of what we (Umno) are doing to reduce the deficits and inadequacies faced by our people," he said.

Najib said that the Malays must become a great race.

"We have seen that Malays have been able to cross vast oceans, conquer the highest summit and explore the north and south poles. We are now in the midst of attempting extreme expeditions in seven continents, cycling solo round the world, and most recently we have begun exploring space.

"But beyond all these, Malays must also excel in mastery of economics; in the area of international trade and commerce; in competing in a knowledge economy; in innovation and securing patents and intellectual property rights; and in exploring strategic and lucrative ventures. Only then can we become a race of greatness that can build enduring civilisations," he added.

NEP benefits everyone

Najib also slammed the opposition for calling for the end to the New Economic Policy (NEP). They had alleged that it only enriched a handful of Malays, he argued.

The NEP, he said, had been a big success in expanding the Malay middle-class with more of them becoming accountants, architects, doctors, dentists, veterinary doctors, engineers, surveyors and lawyers, with 38.8 per cent or 42,414 of the 109,532 professionals in the country now being Malays.

"When the NEP was introduced, Malays only constituted five per cent numbering a mere 225 professionals," he said warning the opposition not to distort the numbers.

"As long as Umno is around, and there is life in the members, we will continue with the Malay economic agenda. This agenda is not only for the benefit of the Malays but for all Malaysians," he said.

The tongue, penis and keris

Najib also mentioned about the 'three prong' solution in ancient warrior Bugis philosophy for conflict resolution, which can serve well in our present efforts to resolve disputes:

The first is the tip of the tongue - to solve conflicts through discussions, dialogues, and consultations.

The second is the tip of 'anunya' (the penis) - to strengthen family and friendship bonds through marriage.

And the third is the tip of the 'keris' (Malay traditional sword) - by going to war. "This is the last resort, and is usually not necessary as the previous two methods would have been sufficient to resolve disputes," said Najib, who has Bugis ancestry.

Noting that Tunku Abdul Rahman raised the 'keris' when he declared in Malacca on Feb 20, 1956 the date of Independence, Najib said the gesture should be celebrated by all races.

"So when Umno Youth made the 'Panca Warisan keris' as a symbol, kissed it and raised it high, it is not right that it be made an issue by the opposition. It was not a declaration of war, but to assert the struggle in defence of the race within the framework of the country's Constitution.

"Don't be confused of its meaning until it threatens national unity. Unity is important in upholding the values in the context of the racial and religious pluralism," said Najib.