KUALA LUMPUR: A PLATFORM to attract new talents into Umno’s fold could greatly help its work at the grassroots and other levels.
Party deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who made the suggestion in an interview with the New Straits Times, said such a platform could be apolitical in nature.
“The president (Datuk Seri Najib Razak) or myself could appoint those (young members) with leadership skills from the divisions.
“They will not belong to any political line-up but are appointed to carry out specific duties in designated capacities as officers or coordinators.”
The new talent would, among other things, help to oversee or coordinate the party’s workflow system. This exposure could help them understand Umno’s struggles while identifying the new talent.
“Surely, there are people in the divisions who are up for the task... Umno has more than three million members.”
Muhyiddin also proposed the setting up of a team of inspectors, to be led by members of the supreme council, and assisted by academicians or volunteers.
This team would go to the ground to check on the performance of divisions in selected constituencies, in which the party had lost to the opposition in thin margins during the general election.
“This is to ensure efforts to bring change to the party will become a reality or proven to be in place, rather than just stopping short at vows or verbal commitments, which won’t be enough.”
The suggestions came amid a pledge by the Umno president and Muhyiddin to spend more time on party matters, and to delegate other tasks to ministers.