Nazri lends support to Khairy's idea of opening up Umno to all Malaysians

PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz (pix) has backed Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin's call for the party to open its membership to all races and religions, saying it must no longer be nostalgic over its history and struggle for the Malays.
The Umno supreme council member said this was the way forward for the party after its disastrous outing at the 14th General Election, claiming that to have race-based parties today was no longer relevant.
"I agree with Khairy. It will be awkward to talk about fighting for Malaysians when our party is a race-based one. We should review this, and inform our supporters that Umno should be open to all.
"Umno is still strong, and many non-Malays have made known their intentions of joining the party previously, but they can't. So I think it is about time we change that," he told theSun today.
"I think after 61 years of independence, we have to be courageous and brave enough, and we have to accept change," he added.
Khairy had, in an interview with Singapore's Channel News Asia, said Umno needed to relook at its structure and possibly open its membership to Malaysians regardless of race or religion, and that everything was on the table.
Nazri said while any such move might not bode well with party veterans, Umno today belonged to the younger members.
"We must not be too nostalgic about our struggle for the Malays. We must no longer think about the veterans, but instead, think about the present members, and this is the reality.
"When we talk about the future, it's not about the veterans, but what's best for now and the future. I am a veteran, but I agree with Khairy," he said.
Fellow Umno senior leader Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad said while the idea had never been mooted before, any decision on the proposal must be made at the party's general assembly.
He said the matter must be tabled and debated at the assembly to get the opinions of party delegates before any amendments could be made to the party's constitution
"At moments, these are just speculations. I've never heard such proposal when talking with other party members. This is the first time such an idea has popped up. I don't know how the (members') reaction will be," he said.