Malaysian leader urges party to embrace change ahead of polls

Dec 1, 2011, 7:22 GMT

Kuala Lumpur - Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak on Thursday urged his ruling party to change in order to gain back the support of voters, ahead of national polls.

Najib said that the United Malays National Organization, or Umno, stood to face a tragic end in the next general elections if it did not accept or embrace the higher expectations of a new generation of voters.

'Umno has to understand the new thinking of voters, in order to gain back their support.

'Umno cannot be arrogant or seen to be proud. If not, the voters and the people will hate and shun us,' Najib told thousands of delegates at the party's annual assembly in the capital Kuala Lumpur.

The party is the backbone of the ruling National Front coalition, which came to power when Malaysia gained independence in 1957, and has enjoyed almost full support since.

However, growing dissatisfaction over a growing corruption and allegations of racial discrimination resulted in the Front suffering its worse ever losses in the last general elections in March 2008.

The Front failed to regain two-thirds of parliament, and lost five out of 13 states to the three-party opposition led by former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim.

On Tuesday, Najib urged Umno members not to be complacent, adding that voters were now exposed to information from various sources, thus making them more discerning.

'If Umno fails to understand and embrace the gamechangers in our new political landscape, and it fails to act upon a new gameplan, then we are merely bringing on a tragedy for the party,' he said.

General elections are not due until 2013, but political observers believe polls may be called as soon as the first half of next year.