Intensify efforts to win supports of Malays, Bumiputera, says Umno delegates

KUALA LUMPUR: In ensuring Barisan Nasional's (BN) survival, Umno, as the backbone party in the coalition must intensify efforts to win the supports of the Malays and the Bumiputera.
Several Umno delegates, when debating the Umno president's policy speech at the Umno General Assembly 2014 at the Putra World Trade Centre here today, said Umno, as the largest Malay party in the country should be able to secure undivided support from the Malay community first before expecting to win the support from other races.
Datuk Mohd Radzi Manan, what was more important was for the support to be reflected in the ballot papers at the next general election, hence ensuring that Umno would continue leading the BN as the ruling party in the country.
"Umno must return its focus on the Malays. Let's identify Malay and Bumiputera hardcore supporters in urban and rural areas. Although they are facing difficult times and seemed like they couldn't care less about Umno, deep down they still love us," said the Perak delegate.
Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak in his presidential policy speech yesterday stressed that Umno's struggle to fight for the Malays and the Bumiputera must continue.
In a bid to keep the votes from the people in rural areas, which were among the biggest contributors to Umno's victory in general elections, Mohd Radzi said Umno should identify the problems that had caused the decline in the people's support for the party.
The Kampar Umno chief said those who had remained loyal to Umno and BN should not be left out of the country's development and wealth distribution.
"Although we need the votes from all quarters, we have to act according to our priorities. The supporters that we have to take care of, the ones that we have to reach out to, that's where we'll go," he said.
His view was shared by Rembau Umno vice-chief Datuk Dr Awaludin Said, who also stressed on the importance of the efforts to empower its polling district centres nationwide to really reach out to the people at the grassroots and to ensure Umno's success in the future.
Awaluddin also said the strategy was proven successful in Negri Sembilan when BN managed to win 22 out of 36 state seats at the 13th general election.
"If every Umno member play their parts and make their contributions through the polling district centres, the party will get stronger and able to emerge as the winner in every election," he said.
Kedah Umno representative from Pokok Sena Umno division Dr Mohammad Nawar Ariffin, on the other hand, called for Umno to inject elements of high quality in its leaders, members and programmes organised by the party and the government.
He said only with the element of high quality and originality would ensure Umno's place in the people's hearts.
"If we want to inject a patient, we must use original and high quality medicine. The same goes to the party, we must have original and high quality leadership so that the future generation will have more respect on us," he said.
Dr Mohammad Nawar also proposed several measures to improve the leadership quality in Umno, including enhancing integrity, working sincerely according to party policies, emphasizing on details and giving priority to overall effects. – Bernama