DPM: New approach needed to win the people's hearts

Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said Friday that Umno leaders and members especially at the grassroots level should adopt a new approach to win hearts because the thinking of the community has greatly changed.

The Deputy Prime Minister said the political situation following the 2008 general election has required Umno and Barisan Nasional to change to handle the new mindset of the people.

He said that party leaders and members could reach the people through "touch point" programmes which concern direct communication and action.

"It is important to seriously put people first. If there is any problem below (on the ground) you should go down. It is important that you look at the community from that level, to hear directly about problems people face," he said when opening the Padang Terap Umno division delegates meeting here.

Also present were chairman of the Kedah Umno liaison committee Datuk Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah and Padang Terap Umno division head Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid.

Muhyiddin said that every branch should carry out its touch point programme faithfully because its effect can be far-reaching.

Under the programme, he said, the branch leaders and members should meet the people to help solve whatever problem they have, be it poor health or lack of funds, their children not attending school or inadequate facilities in their area, or whatever.

"We have to look at what voters want. Power is with the people. We cannot act as usual. It is not enough for us to build mosques. The people now ask for more than that," Muhyiddin said.

He said the post-2008 situation raised questions which Umno leaders and members must answer in courting the people.

"Why did we lose support (in some states) although our struggle for the people has been genuine and accompanied by development? What was it that we did not do that made them choose an untested government? This the challenge we face," Muhyiddin said.

For Umno and BN to win big in the general election and recapture states lost to the opposition, unity was essential, he said.

"Unity is the key. Let there be no problem in the party that could stop cooperation and joint effort," he added.

-- BERNAMA