KUALA LUMPUR: Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin wants the party to offer a new deal for youths in the 14th general election manifesto.
"We need a fresh message for youths. As such, the BN election manifesto must offer a new deal.
"The offer must also meet the tastes and needs of youths in Malaysia. If we want to be a party of the future, this is one of the formula," he said in his winding up speech this evening at the 71st Umno general Assembly at Putra World Trade Centre.
He said the deal should convince youths that Umno/BN understands their concerns and uneasiness.
"Let the deal mould a better future for them and create high income jobs, and not neglect those from the rural areas or those who are not yet ready for opportunities in the digital economy.
"The deal should consider providing houses and the likes. Let this be the BN offer for youths in this general election," he added.
He said the second formula that could reflect Umno as party of the future was nominating more youths and new candidates.
"This is 2017. Allow candidates to reflect the 2017 taste. This is important because voters no longer look at the party logo.
"The era when a songkok can win is long gone. Now a candidate is the manifestation of the president and party," he added.
Khairy added that the diversity of candidates would enable the party to be seen as contemporary.
"It also means that we have (candidates) from among the seniors but we need to have more from among the Wanita and youths who are not from the party's hierarchy.
"This does not mean we (Youth) want all of it. The seniors will continue to be in the frontline to lead and guide us.
"No matter what, the final decision is with the president. We will accept any decision. What is important is not the candidates but victory for Umno and BN.
"The stake is high this time. It is about survival and destiny," he added.
Khairy said the 14th general election would be extraordinary because at stake would not only be about who forms the government in the next five years but the destiny of the people and nation.
"We are living in an era of great disruption. From now on we face the fourth industrial revolution where the physical, digital and biology world are interrelated."
By 2030, he said 20 per cent of employment would be replaced by robots and 65 per cent of jobs would be filled by primary school students who are not born yet.
"Today Malaysia is a young nation because more than 71 per cent of the population is below 40 years old but by 2035 we will become an aging nation.
"This will extend our life expectancy to more than 90 years. This will put pressure on the health system as well enable average EPF savings of RM50,000.
"How will this sustain us until 90 years of age?" he asked adding that this pressure would be amplified by urbanisation, climate change, food security, border security, cyber warfare and social value changes in the digital world
Khairy said he had met some two million youths since January to listen to aspirations on the future of the country and prepare for the changes and disruption in the future.
"The president puts one eye on the present and one eye on the future while the opposition does not care about the future generation.
"Apart from solving current problems, we are also making preparation for the future," he added.