PETALING JAYA: Former Umno Youth leader Khairy Jamaluddin has likened Umno to a Persian cat which picked up street fighting skills after being kicked out from its home in a gilded mansion of power.
People had predicted that Umno would be sombre and pessimistic after losing power: however, it continued to gain support and branch meetings currently being held were crowded with supporters, he said.
“Umno has shown it can survive. Contrary to those who thought that Umno will disintegrate, with members moving to other parties. It has proven otherwise. We have proven we can remain a Persian cat, but one with with street fighting (skills),” he said in an interview with Sinar Harian.
The party still retained a place within the Malay conscience, and there was anger among Malays because of the economy and other issues.
However, he believed that Umno should not turn “too right wing” as racial and religious issues might “come back and bite us. When we play the race and religion card, we may not be able to control the consequences”.
He said he had advised PAS and Umno supporters at a ceramah in Pendang recently that the two parties should look after all (communities). Umno and PAS should take a stand on poverty, education, training, work opportunities, good governance and not be too obsessed with race and religion.
Najib and Zahid represent the past
Khairy said Najib Razak, the former prime minister and Umno president, and his former deputy, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, represent the past era.
Umno would not be able to move forward if it stuck to its past image, and sounded a warning that “I will return as a bad boy (if the party returns to its past)”.
To a question about Najib’s catchphrase “Apa Malu Bossku” (Why Be Ashamed, My Boss), Khairy said everyone had the right to defend themselves in court and defend how they were perceived by the public.
However, they should do so with a moral compass.
Umno’s plans for rejuvenation
Khairy, who is MP for Rembau, said a group within Umno was looking into measures to rejuvenate the party which he hoped would be carried out as soon as possible. The party had not had the time for structural changes because Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan, who is performing the duties of president, has had to focus his efforts on seven by-elections.
Although Barisan Nasional had won the past three by-elections (in Cameron Highlands, Semenyih and Rantau) the coalition could not continue to pin hopes on exploiting public anger at Pakatan Harapan’s failure to deliver on election promises.
“We need to have our own strengths,” he said. “We have their support (now) but that does not mean it is forever.”
Source : FMT by Minderjeet Kaur
Indie Borneo 