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Sunday 12 October 2008

Umno needs to change mindset, says Muhyiddin

By HAMDAN RAJA ABDULLAH, The Star

MUAR: Umno vice-president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin wants party members to have a mindset change towards making the party’s struggles accepted by other races.

He said it would be futile for Umno to have strong leaders who received strong support from all members, but are rejected by the community during the general election.

The party must now give priority to having leaders who are not only accepted by members, but respected and accepted by those from outside Umno as well.

“The 12th general election showed us that although we have had a very long track record in building the nation, we lost many seats in the election,” he told reporters Saturday after opening the Pagoh Umno Youth, Wanita and Putri general assemblies.

Muhyiddin, who is also the division’s chief, said it would be useless for leaders to win posts, including at the supreme council level, if they are not accepted by the people in the general election.

He said party deputy president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had recently warned that they either changed their mindset or the people would change the Barisan Nasional government.

He said the people, especially those born after independence and aged between 30 and 40 years old, had their own ideas, aspirations and had access to greater global information.

“We are now in the process of electing party leaders and we should give thought to choosing leaders accepted by all, not only among Umno members,” he said.

On Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s suggestion to allow Malaysians to become Barisan members without joining any component party, Muhyiddin said it was a good suggestion.

“The suggestion can strengthen the alliance and we hope it will be given deep consideration by all parties before it is accepted,” he added.

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