(THE STAR) - NEW Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin says he is willing to listen to criticism and advice to help him better lead and guide the movement.
He acknowledged that he still had a lot to learn in bringing about changes to strengthen the movement.
“I stand here before you for the first time as the head of Umno Youth and I am aware that I am merely human, with all its weaknesses and shortcomings,” he said.
“There is still a lot for me to learn to ensure that the movement’s struggles are carried out smoothly to achieve its objectives.”
He added that if there were shortcomings in his leadership, it was all right for others to point them out to him and guide him.
He noted that the movement also viewed the transition of power at the party’s top leadership carried a deep symbolic meaning for those born before and after Merdeka.
“Even more so when the movement faces the tough challenge of winning back support of young voters to Umno and Barisan Nasional,” he said.
He said training programmes and activities that covered politics, education, religion, sports and social issues would be implemented to ensure that closer rapport is built between the movement and youth.
Wanita chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil hoped that she would be able to measure up to the expectations of new Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in her capacity as the new leader of the wing.
In thanking Rafidah for her services to the movement and nation, she said “anyone who takes over from (former chief) Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz will have a hard act to follow,” in her winding-up speech.
Shahrizat said she knew that expectations of her to perform were high.
“God-willing, with support from you (Najib) and the new leadership, my new line-up and I will bring the country into a new political era,” she said.
She assured them that she had learned from the best in Malaysian politics and named former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali as her first teachers.
She added that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, his late wife Datin Paduka Seri Endon Mahmood and his wife Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah were her second teachers in politics.
The delegates teased her with cheers when she continued to mention Najib and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, and subsequently his deputy Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and his wife as her teachers as well.
Puteri Umno will work hard to dispel misconceptions that the movement is irrelevant and weak, its chief Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin said.
She said the movement hoped to use an integrated approach, including information technology, to help spread the party’s message to the people.
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