Khaled: Umno cannot afford to be race-centric

By TEH ENG HOCK (The Star)

DATUK Seri Khaled Nordin is the youngest among eight candidates in the Umno vice-president race.

The 46-year-old Universiti Malaya law graduate and fellow Johoreans – Umno Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein and Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar – will face the delegates next week as they pick the three new VPs.

Khaled feels that Umno delegates are no longer voting along state lines but will go with the credentials of candidates.

He pointed out that the political landscape was fast changing, and Umno must adapt to remain relevant, while overcoming challenges like negative perception and complacency.

Below are the excerpts of The Star interview with Khaled:

Q: What are the changes that you will bring about if you win?

A: The direction of the party will be decided by the president, aided by the deputy president and vice-presidents.

My opinion is that Umno must exist in an environment that has changed. That must be clearly established – the position and the basis of our struggle.

Umno needs to re-examine its relationship with the component parties.

From the leadership aspect, Umno needs to correct the negative perception especially on claims of corruption, arrogance and being out of touch with the people. What is very important is that the Umno leadership must put service as an important agenda. Although Umno is Malay-based, its leaders cannot be race-centric because the Umno leadership has to defend all races in the country.

Barisan Nasional component parties are pointing the finger at Umno, saying the party was the cause of their defeat in the general election last year.

We have to re-examine these issues. After 51 years of independence, we need to look back at our achievements.

We had also agreed on many issues, so let’s not assume that our formula and recipe is no longer valid because of one defeat. What is important is loyalty and how Umno had been loyal to Barisan.

This can be seen clearly in the 1980 general election, when Umno won by a big majority in Penang and yet gave the Chief Minister’s post to Gerakan.

Umno and other component parties should have confidence in the concept of Barisan Nasional and we need to address our weaknesses collectively.

On poverty eradication, my view is that the problem must be overcome regardless of race. When the economy recovers and grows again, all quarters will get opportunities.

We also agreed that benefits of the New Economic Policy (NEP) must be distributed equally. Although the Malays have special privileges, this does not mean they do not have to work hard. They need not strive to be successful.

This is what we need to correct in the NEP. So the Malays will not be angry with the distribution of wealth, and the non-Malays will not be angry with the NEP.

How do you view the internal problems in Umno.

Umno’s internal problems arose from the attitude that “we have been in power for too long, and we are comfortable with what we have achieved.”

Many became “passengers,” enjoying the strength of the party without contributing to strengthen the party.

These are the internal challenges that need to be addressed. Every party member must play a part in reinforcing Umno’s position.

How does Umno plan to win the support of the younger generation?

Umno’s struggles are not often highlighted. Umno is seen as a party that does not fight for the Malays, and this is compounded by efforts to paint a negative picture of Umno and its leaders.

The party is perceived as not moving with the times. There is also the perception that Umno is an unfair party.

This must be changed, especially on issues such as poverty eradication, regardless of race.

Umno will be seen as a party that is relevant to the society if it can address these issues. It is not enough that Umno alone realises this.

The component parties also need to find out why they lost.