If the debates by Umno delegates last year were deemed fiery and offensive to certain parties , the debates on the first day of the Umno meet this year turned out to be a rather tame affair.

A total of nine delegates debated party president Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's keynote address by the end of today's meeting. The session was adjourned at 6.20pm and will resume tomorrow morning.

The majority of the speakers focused on the economic development and political rights of the Malay community but their speeches were obviously toned down unlike last year's where they were peppered with racial taunts.

Perhaps there will be more excitement at tomorrow's meeting where resolutions concerning key issues such as economy, education and religion will be debated.

Umno Youth vice-chief Khairy Jamaluddin is also expected to speak tomorrow - he is representing the Youth wing to debate the economic and education resolutions.

Below are some of the highlights from today's debate:

Kamilia Ibrahim, Wanita Umno/Kuala Kangsar delegate, on constitutional amendment

We want the term 'official' to be inserted into Article 3 of the Federal Constitution as currently, there are many questions on whether this country is secular or Islamic, and those who question this are often those who know nothing about the religion.

In the context of Islamic country, Wanita Umno proposes that a 'Non-Muslim Religion Administration Act' be established so that their religions may have specific laws and regulations to prevent them from building temples indiscriminately.

We want those who try to manipulate environmental and legal issues and turn them into racial issues to stop.

Azimi Daim, Umno Youth/Kulim Bandar Baru delegate, on political tolerance and keris

Umno practises political tolerance by sharing Malay-majority seats with other BN component parties. This does not happen anywhere else in the world.

Umno is prepared to share seats but on the other hand, the non-Malays are still controlling the country's economy. This (formula) is however needed to ensure national unity.

The Mandarin television news yesterday highlighted the scenes of Youth chief Hishammuddin Hussein brandishing and kissing the keris. But if we don't raise the keris, what else could we raise?

Shall we raise - to borrow Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's word - the anunya (penis)? [Laughter from the floor]

Ahmad Shabery Cheek, Kemaman delegate, on price hikes

Shabery highlighted three main reasons for the series of price hikes - the sharp increase in oil price, unfair government concessions, and mismanagement. He called for the situation to be rectified.

For example, he said contracts with highway concessionaires and independent power producers which guaranteed profit for the concessionaires and forced the government to pay for losses should be rescinded.

The mismanagement of government funds as highlighted in the Auditor-General's Report was another reason behind the price hikes. However, he said the increase of the oil prices is due to external factor and beyond the government's control.