ALOR SETAR: Kedah Umno veterans want top party posts to be contested in the coming elections as a sign of change and to regain grassroots’ support.
They felt that the old policy that encouraged ‘no contest’ for the sake of solidarity is no longer relevant for Umno.
Former Poko Sena member of parliament, Datuk Abdul Rahman Ibrahim said the 14th General Election (GE14) result was a lesson for Barisan Nasional (BN).
“Everyone in the party must see this an opportunity to identify ways to overcome the weaknesses. Umno is actually still strong. However, it is time to rejuvenate the party by getting more support from the younger generation.
“This is the right time to bring some changes in Umno because the party need to be more dynamic to meet current demands and needs of the people.
“I also feel that the top positions in Umno should not be open for contest and members must be given the freedom to choose because there are many capable candidates in Umno,” he said.
Abdul Rahman said in an effort to revive the party, members should be allowed to vote for leaders that they want.
“There are many people who love the party and it has to change based on what the younger generation want in regards to its system, approach and programmes.
“Umno needs to have better offers to woo those outside the party to return supporting the party,” he said.
Former Guar Chempedak assemblyman Datuk Abdul Razak Hashim echoed Rahman’s sentiment and urged top party positions to be contested in the coming party polls.
“The old policy that Umno has been practising had caused the party to lose all the support because members didn’t have freedom to choose.
“Allow freedom for everyone to choose because the party upholds the democratic concept,” he said.
Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin recently rejected suggestions that certain positions in the party should not be contested in the coming party election.
Such suggestion, he said, should not exist in Umno anymore if it wished to remain relevant and appeal to the people.
This way of thinking, he said, was among the reasons why Barisan Nasional (BN), spearheaded by Umno, failed in the 14th General Election.