Transform Mindset To Remain Relevant

Transform Mindset To Remain Relevant KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 – A delegate’s reference to a history ‘lesson’ on the fall of the Melaka Sultanate 500 years ago, was among the highlights of the 61st Umno general assembly today. Melaka representative Datuk Mohd Said Yusof said Umno as the biggest party representing the Malays must ensure that istory does not repeat itself because of leaders who are hypocrites, egoistic and greedy. “The fall of the Melaka Sultanate to the Portuguese was not because they had modern weapons and ammunition like canons, guns and ships…but because there was a split among the Malay leaders and rulers. The Sultan at that time was more interested and focused on Tun Fatimah that he did not take any interest or cared for the people. “I hope we can learn from the 1511 history because the Malays have since emerged to fight for their rights and independence after being suppressed by those who ruled us,” he said when debating Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s speech at the Umno General Assembly here today. Mohd Said also urged Umno leaders to be humble and not become egoistic and show offs when meeting the people. “In those days the leaders were humble when going to meet the people but these days leaders are more interested in showing off their Porsche Cayenne, expensive suites. How can the people accept them…maybe they will even accuse them of being corrupt,” he said. Kuala Krau, Pahang, Umno division deputy chief Syed Ibrahim Syed Ahmad urged party members to transform their mindset to remain as the pioneers to drive the party progressively. “Members must acquire knowledge which is a key to transformation, in line with the Prime Minister’s call to unite and help in the transformation process,” he said. Terengganu representative Saiful Bahri Baharuddin said the aggressive initiative by the opposition to register new voters should not be considered ‘business as usual’ but rather serve as a warning as Umno’s survival depends on such numbers (vote). “If Umno members still love the party, religion, race and future, members must counter such moves so that it will not come back to haunt them. We do not want somebody else to take over the administration in Putrajaya. Saiful said there are 11.2 registered voters in the country and another 4.3 million eligible voters who have yet to register and that includes 1.9 million Malay voters. He said according to statistics on new voter registration from January to June, DAP had registered 55,321, followed by Umno 54,000, PAS (38,000), Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) (13,000) MCA and MIC with 3,000 and 1,000 respectively. Meanwhile, Federal Territories representative Datuk Mustafa Kamal Mohd Yusoff said there were DAP and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) members within component parties of Barisan Nasional (BN) to create a split. Selangor representative Datuk Mohd Bashro Mat Johor who is also the Subang Umno division chief said the Umno leadership must not only pick candidates from division chiefs but also provide an opportunity to others who qualify.