Umno should remain an exclusively Malay party, and continue to represent the community, says the party's Federal Territories Youth chief Razlan Rafii.
Razlan, who is contesting for a seat on the Umno supreme council in the upcoming party polls, said it would not make sense to change the ‘Malay’ in United Malay National Organisation to ‘Malaysian’.
"Umno cannot be opened to other races. Unless we create another umbrella (party), under which the other races can join.
"Previously, we used BN as the umbrella, and embraced diversity in discussions in the coalition," he told Malaysiakini today in an interview at the Yayasan Wisma Perdana complex in Kuala Lumpur.
Razlan was responding to a suggestion by youth Chief Khairy Jamaluddin that Umno should consider opening its membershipto other ethnic groups, following the party's colossal defeat in the May 9 polls.
He did agree with Khairy on one point, however, saying that there is a need for Umno and BN to improve itself, as Pakatan Harapan had “effectively killed” BN.
"There is a possibility that we need another brand, but Umno will continue as Umno.
“Maybe we will have a direct membership from one party to another, which will be multiracial, but it cannot be Umno,” he stressed.
"In that new brand, maybe we can invite our friends from MCA, MIC and others to join us under the umbrella.
“But the issue of opening up Umno to other races should not even be up for discussion.” -Mkini
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