Najib launches Umno online membership registration

KUALA LUMPUR: The launching of the Umno online application today has now made it easier for those who want to join the party, including students who are studying overseas.
All one needs to do is to go to the Umno website and register online.
Speaking at the launch of the system at the Putra World Trade Centre, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak said, the online registration system has made it easy for everyone to register for the women, youth and Puteri wings.
He said the move was following complaints that people find it difficult to apply to join Umno although they had expressed their desire to do so.
Najib, who is also Umno president, said one of the main issues is that students studying overseas do not know who their divisional leaders are and they have complaints of the application forms going missing.
Doing online registration, he added, was reliable and will take 24 hours to process as the information given needs to be verified.
"We also need to verify applicants from opposition parties who apply to join Umno. If they are still members of the opposition parties, then the application will be rejected," he said.
Najib said the membership drive is part of the party's rejuvenation exercise which was the theme during its recently concluded 68th annual general assembly (AGM) and to cut down on the bureaucratic process faced by potential members especially the youths or also known as Gen Y.
He also reminded Umno members that the term rejuvenation which was raised in the last AGM did not mean the young leaders helming nor replacing the veteran leaders but as a means for both generations to cooperate to make the party more dynamic, progressive and open in their approach to issues.
Meanwhile, Wanita Umno chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said currently there are 1.3 million women members from the overall 3.5 million members.
She said although there might be some glitches in the initial stages of the application system , it can be ironed out fast.
Shahrizat hoped with the launch of the system, more women would apply to be members.
Puteri Umno Chief Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin said she hopes to see an increase in membership via the system from the current 375,000 members to 500,000 within the next three years.
Pemuda Umno currently has 700,000 members.
Those interested may apply at www.umno-online.my.