Najib on Umno reforms needed: More open to new members, less rigid hierarchy

Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak said some of the reforms needed in Umno are that the party should be more open to new members and not be too rigid in its hierarchy, among others.

“Umno’s strength is that there are many members in the party. No other party is bigger than Umno in terms of membership, but in this matter, the way things are done in Umno has become an obstacle in the context of the new norm.

“People who want to join Umno feel it is too hard to be acknowledged by Umno,” Najib said in an interview live-streamed on Facebook last night in conjunction with Umno’s 74th anniversary.

For example, he said, a professor who joins the party must start as a normal member at the branch level and it is too difficult for him to become acknowledged as a leader at the division level.

Najib, who is also the Pekan MP, said there is also a rigid hierarchy in Umno, which affects the persons who are chosen as candidates in elections.

“We are tied to the hierarchy. If say, we want to choose someone who has extraordinary capabilities, but we cannot because they do not have any position at the division level, so it is difficult to choose them as candidates.

“People who feel they have been in the party for a long time or have become leaders in the party wonder why they are being sidelined.

“So, whether or not to choose those who have done a lot for the party or those who are capable… because in the end, in an election, (they) must get the support of the rakyat as the support of the party members is not enough,” Najib said.

Umno is also too restricted by their divisions, whereby their candidates must be tied to the division they are contesting in, he said.

“For the opposition, in the general election, someone from Perlis can even contest in Temerloh and win. People didn’t even know who he is,” Najib said.

On top of that, Najib said Umno must make it easier for people to join the party.

He still receives complaints from people who say it is too difficult to join the party with various logistics issues.

“If we think Umno belongs to us and it is difficult for us to accept people joining the party, then this is a big problem if Umno’s doors are seen as not being wide open,” he said.

This must be remedied if the party wishes to appeal to the “millennials”, who will be the biggest portion of voters in the upcoming 15th general election, he said.

Najib also criticised those who left the party to join Pakatan Harapan in the wake of BN’s defeat in the 14th general election, saying they were too short-sighted.

He said they also lacked resilience as BN’s loss in the 2018 general election was a test from Allah.

“When they jumped (parties), they were not looking at the party’s fight in the long-term.

“When you jump, you lose your support base because… others did not follow them. Maybe two to three people who are close to them personally, but the support base from Umno who supported them in the general election is no longer with them.

“The question is, what will happen to them in the future? I am sure this is something hounding their minds at this moment because of the support base,” Najib said.

“We must act as an Umno bloc, starting with our own leaders,” he added.

Najib also commented on the various motions submitted to the Dewan Rakyat speaker by Pakatan Harapan lawmakers ahead of the one-day Parliament sitting on May 18.

He said the various motions were sending mixed messages as some claimed Muhyiddin has lost the majority, while one motion claimed that former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has the majority.

Mahathir had successfully submitted a motion for a vote of no-confidence against Muhyiddin, whereas Semporna MP and Warisan president Mohd Shafie Apdal had earlier unsuccessfully submitted a motion of confidence in Mahathir.

It was reported yesterday that the May 18 sitting will only have a single agenda, that is the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s opening address.

This means that no other motions will be discussed, including the government’s business.

In the interview last night, Najib noted that even in the next Parliament sitting in July, Parliament rules state that government business must be prioritised.

“So this means that even if there is such a motion (of no-confidence), it will fall to the bottom. Government business will be settled first, following the order.

“It is just that when we reach the budget’s committee stage, they will ask for a bloc vote, which means there is a chance,” Najib said, with a laugh.

“It is there that we will face our biggest test,” he added. - Mkini