PAGOH, July 9- Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin today said Umno must make comprehensive changes in order to remain relevant and to retain power in the future.
He said whatever decision made by the voters in the last general election must be accepted and that Umno members should not give up, but to stay strong in facing the ever-challenging political landscape.
“When I go to the ground, I found that some Umno members are less enthusiastic now…and when asked, they said the political ecosystem has changed and that they were worried that we will lose.
“In a situation like this, it’s important for us to face whatever decision made by the voters.
“However, if Umno wants to retain power, it must make some changes. Not just for the sake of making changes, but to change towards achieving our goals,” he said at the simultaneous opening of Pagoh Umno Youth, Wanita and Puteri Annual Conference here.
Muhyiddin, who is also Umno deputy president, said the changes were vital because without them, Umno would not be able to last and Umno’s relevancy would always be questioned over the next five years.
Meanwhile, he also called on Umno leaders to be at the frontline in fighting for issues concerning the Malays and the Bumiputeras.
He said this was because certain quarters, especially Umno Youth and Wanita, were seen to have been keeping silence when matters concerning the rights of the Malays and Bumiputeras were being debated.
If certain quarters were threatening the rights of the Malays, the people would expect Umno to champion the issue and to defend their rights as stipulated in the Federal Constitution, he said.
– BERNAMA
