BN adds 1 Malaysia to its logo as snap polls loom

BN CAN CHANGE ITS LOGO BUT PEOPLE WILL ONLY TRUST THEM AND VOTE THEM INTO POWER IF THEY START TO CHANGE THEIR ATTITUDE BY TREATING ALL MALAYSIANS FAIRLY AND EQUALLY - THE TRUE MEANING OF 1 MALAYSIA. CAN THIS HAPPEN?

Najib has gone out to woo support with his 1 Malaysia concept. — File pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 25 — The Barisan Nasional (BN) is adding elements of the “1 Malaysia” artwork to its iconic logo ahead of snap polls expected next year, making it the first major “cosmetic change” since the ruling coalition was established before the 1974 general election.

The Malaysian Insider understands the new look for the “dacing”, or weighing scale, was approved last week together with proposals for direct and associate membership into coalition founded by BN chairman Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s father, Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, to replace the Alliance coalition after the 1969 race riots.

“The dacing in white will now have the 1 and BN letters in the middle to reflect 1 Malaysia,” a source told The Malaysian Insider, referring to the prime minister’s 1 Malaysia concept.

The familiar blue background will now include strips of red, yellow and blue — which are colours of the national flag, the Jalur Gemilang, the source added.

The current BN logo.

Before BN came to existence, the Alliance, comprising Umno, the MCA and MIC, used the sailing ship as its common logo for the 1959, 1964 and 1969 polls. The three parties have never used their own logos for any elections in independent Malaya or Malaysia, unlike their foes PKR, DAP and PAS.

It also learnt the new logo will be used after being approved by the Registrar of Societies (Ros), and will likely to be used first in the Sarawak state election due before next July or the snap polls widely speculated for next March.

BN leaders contacted by The Malaysian Insider said the new logo has injected a “new spirit” due to the new colours but they still preferred the current logo.

The BN now has 13 members, eight of which are from Sabah and Sarawak.

Under the amendments to its charter by the BN supreme council, BN agrees to accept direct and associate members apart from launching a BN Rakan Muda Club, seen as a way to attract young talent repulsed by the race-based parties within the coalition.

Najib said last week that the historic decision to amend its charter is an effort to make BN more inclusive and open to all who share its concept, principles and policies of the coalition.

He had said the BN supreme council had decided direct membership is open to any political party, association, non-governmental organisation while the BN Friends’ Club is for those friendly to the coalition.

The amendments will be submitted to the RoS, he added.

The Alliance logo.

The BN Rakan Muda Club is for those between 18 and 21who want to support the coalition before they are allowed to vote at the age of 21.

A BN Youth Lab survey carried out recently estimated that 49 per cent of the electorate will be under the age of 35 by the next general election as all parties focus to register an estimated four million eligible voters.

BN is looking to regain its customary two-third parliamentary majority it lost to Pakatan Rakyat (PR) parties in Election 2008, which also saw the coalition lose power in four more states.

It has since taken back Perak through defections in PR parties there.

Najib, who replaced Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as prime minister in April 2009, has gone out to woo support with his 1 Malaysia concept and meeting all communities, particularly the various Indian groups.

The amendments for BN are seen as his way to renew the ageing coalition and revive its multi-culturalism character ahead of the polls where he is seeking his own mandate as prime minister. - Malaysian Insider