Post GE13: Top Umno Leaders Support Najib's Call For Acknowledgement

Prime Minister and Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's call to party members to acknowledge and redress their weaknesses has received support from Umno's top leaders.

Party vice-president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said the labelling of Umno as 'racist' should be studied as the party, being the backbone of the Barisan Nasional (BN), had to unite all communities.

"Whatever the allegations hurled at Umno, party members should rather not dwell on them negatively but instead, work hard for the well-being of the people.

"Umno members must not be arrogant. What we should do is to shoulder the trust and responsibilities and carry out the pledges (in the manifesto)," he said.

Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Umno must find the special factor that would strengthen the party, apart from keeping its struggles alive so that it would continue to remain as the people's choice.

"With acknowledgement, we will be able to find a distinction by which this sacred Malay party would be viewed differently from other parties, and thus, maintain the people's trust," he said.

Meanwhile, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said Umno had every reason to celebrate the party's victory as it had managed to win 88 of the parliamentary seats, compared to 79 in the general election in 2008.

Nevertheless, he supported Najib's call that Umno members should engage in self-acknowledgement and ponder why the party had lost its former strength and no longer able to draw the support of certain parties.

"The leader (Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak) has said he would contemplate on this. All of us should ask and study why there is disunity among the Malays.

Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin said while Umno members should understand Najib's message to move forward, the BN structure should be reviewed to enable the cooperation with other BN components parties to be further enhanced, in preparation for the next general election.

Wanita Umno chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said Wanita Umno should resolve its weaknesses to gain more support in partnership with the Youth and Puteri wings.

Puteri Umno chief Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin said the party needed to go back to basics, in its struggles and work on pockets of areas where support was lacking.

People's Progressive Party president Datuk M. Kayveas said the BN's results in GE13 would inspire his party to work harder.