Former Umno president Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi says Umno suffers from the perception that it has members who are extremists or that it supports such elements. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, November 25, 2014.
Concerned over the perception that Umno was becoming extremist, former party president Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Umno needed to be a proactive party, and not an aggressive one.
Delegates preparing for the party's general assembly, which begins tomorrow, were reminded to speak in moderate terms, as the party suffers from the perception that it had members who were extremists or that it supported such elements, Abdullah said.
In a blog post today, the former prime minister said he was both worried and saddened by this perception and acknowledged that there was probably a small group who could be described as aggressive and extremist.
He hoped "positive voices" would speak up among the delegates at the assembly, which runs until the weekend.
"Those who are proficient at expanding the Malay agenda should not just talk, they should adopt a positive note to bring up the Malay Muslims.
"The spirit of the struggle should burn brightly and not play the race card. This will ensure that Umno's agenda will be acceptable again," Abdullah said.
Earlier today, Abdullah's predecessor Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad called on Umno delegates to be brave and to speak their minds at the general assembly, including criticising the party leadership.
“Everyone knows that Umno now is not as popular as before. There are those who say Umno is not relevant.
“If Umno is defeated and wiped off the face of the earth, its leaders and members cannot deny that they had contributed to the downfall of the party that has done a lot for Malays and Malaysia," Dr Mahathir had said in his blog.
Abdullah also noted that to stay relevant in the "current geopolitics", Umno had to be a party that was "proactive and not more aggressive".
"Umno's rhetoric and political philosophy must be refreshed immediately, to be in line with the development of Malaysia's political philosophy," he added.
He also reminded delegates that Umno was not just a party for the Malays and Bumiputeras, but as the lynchpin of the ruling coalition, Barisan Nasional, Umno was also leader of all Malaysians.
As such, delegates had to remember that the assembly must emphasise justice and progress, not just for Malays, but for all citizens.
Defending Umno from criticism that it was a racist party, Abdullah appealed to non-Malays "not to misunderstand" the debates on Malay rights issues.
He also ticked off the media, bloggers and cybertroopers, telling them not to "take advantage" of the assembly to stoke ill-feelings among the public against the party.
Abdullah's and Dr Mahathir's advice to delegates come a day before Umno meets for its 68th assembly.
Dr Mahathir has been strident in his criticism against the party and its president, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who is also the country's prime minister.
The former prime minister has complained that Najib has not listened to his recommendations, which have touched on cash handouts through the 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M) and sovereign fund 1Malaysia Development Bhd.
Dr Mahathir had also called for reforms to Umno's "warlord culture" among its branch and division leaders, which led to bright and talented members being sidelined.
The former prime minister said this has led to the party’s grassroots structure being dominated by mediocre leaders.
- TMI
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