Update - Discard ‘cari makan’ mentality, says Najib

Update Discard ‘cari makan’ mentality, says Najib

Tags: 1Malaysia | Abdul Razak Hussein | Najib Razak | Umno

Written by Chan Kok Leong, Chua Sue-Ann & Lam Jian Wyn

Thursday, 15 October 2009 12:29

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno members should shake off the mentality that Umno is a "cari makan" party, its president Datuk Seri Najib Razak told delegates at the party’s general assembly yesterday.

"The image that Umno is a means to riches or earning a living must be discarded," he said during the president's policy speech.

He added that party members should not only look after their own interest as "we want Umno to be seen and known as an inclusive party that puts the people first".

Emphasising the need for a meaningful reform, Najib urged his party to move towards the middle ground, reinvent its image and discard its old habits.

Though the newly elected president continued to impress upon the delegates the need for Umno to focus on its Malay support, he also preached a "centrist party" message.

Najib, who has based his leadership on the 1Malaysia concept, said that Umno must be "seen as a party which defends all the people".

"Umno cannot be viewed as a party which is only pre-occupied with defending the interest of a small group of people," said Najib.

But he was uncompromising with the accusation that the Malays are a racist lot.

"Compared to the apartheid system in South Africa or the racial separation in the United States in the 1960s, the situation in Malaysia is very different," said Najib.

"Those who accuse Umno as a racist party should first look into the racial composition of their own parties. If Malays are racists, there wouldn't be a flourishing of different ethnic cultures and a variety of schools for other races here," he added.

Najib said that it is now time for the party to move towards the centre. "We cannot afford to be ultra right or left wing anymore," he said.

Nevertheless, the 56-year-old president reminded the delegates of Umno's core strength and its importance.

"Our party is respected by friends and foes alike because of our ability to draw support from Malays and bumiputeras. But if this support were to diminish, Umno will no longer be respected by its partners.

"Hence, like it or not, Umno's strength as a political entity depends on its ability to meet the needs of its members," said Najib.

He explained that for Umno to remain relevant, people's needs and demands must be reflected in the government's policies.

Conflict between the party's aspirations and Malaysians' needs will not arise if they are one and the same, Najib added.

"This situation will be made worse if Malays perceive that Umno is not ready to make corrective changes quickly.

"If the conflict arises, many Malaysians will not see Umno as a solution to their woes but the source of their problems," he explained.

Hence, he added, it is crucial that Umno leaders and members be known for their integrity when given a task.

"If a negative perception of our leaders and members is allowed to persist, this will become the main factor for the people to withdraw their support for Umno," said Najib.

He told the delegates that the party needs to be realistic and adopt new changes. "We must be prepared to re-evaluate ourselves and look at our weaknesses and make the proper corrections."

Najib also addressed concerns pertaining to the New Economic Policy (NEP) and why it had to be stopped.

"If in four decades, we have still failed to achieve our intended objectives using the same method, isn't it time for us to come up with a strategy which is more relevant to the times?" he asked.

NEP, which was formulated by Najib's father Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, was intended to raise bumiputera equity from 2.4% to 30% within 20 years. However, despite extending the deadline, bumiputera equity is only at 19.2% (according to government estimates).

During Najib's first three months as prime minister, he had announced several liberalisation measures aimed at adjusting elements of the NEP, including removal of the 30% equity requirement for companies seeking a public listing.

He reminded that the government had at different junctures — during the commodity crisis of the 1980s and financial crisis in 1997 — suspended and changed elements of the NEP to revive the economy and ensure its continuity.

"Based on this, the government has today liberalised certain sectors and re-evaluate wealth creation methods to make it more meaningful for Malays and bumiputeras."

Malays as a whole also need to change their mindsets, he added.

"The issue here is no longer about assistance but about management and administration of the help given. The fact remains that Malays, when seen comprehensively, are still backward and need assistance. That is the full picture," he added.

Najib also said he was confident that the proposed constitutional amendments to reform the party election system will eradicate money politics within the party.

Umno is expected to widen the pool of voters from the current 2,500 delegates to 146,500 members across the 191 divisions nationwide.

The president also said that there will be changes to the criteria used to pick election candidates.

"The persons chosen must be a local candidate who is well accepted by the people and must have served in society, the party and the country," said Najib.

And lastly, Najib said Umno must have more outreach programmes and be "more inclusive".

#Umno Assembly* Delegates endorse constitutional amendments< Prev		Next >#Flash* Hundreds of MCA members arrive at HQ, with banners, urging party president Ong Tee Keat to stay on.

Last Updated on Friday, 16 October 2009 00:10

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