Special Umno training to lift morale and confidence

(The Star) MUAR: Umno will launch a special political training programme to lift the morale and confidence of its members since the 12th general election.

Deputy Umno president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the programme’s specially designed courses would cover new approaches to be adopted by the party machinery.

Speaking to branch leaders in Pagoh, he said many party members had lost their fighting spirit after the general election, when five states fell to the Opposition.

“I have issued directives to party leaders from all levels to start reviving members’ spirits and confidence in Umno.

“If members in states under Barisan Nasional feel weak, it could be worse for those in the Pakatan Rakyat-controlled states,” he said when simultaneously opening the Pagoh Umno, Wanita, Youth and Puteri branch general meetings here yesterday.

Muhyiddin said party members in Pakatan-controlled states should be told that it was not the end of the road for Umno in their states.

He said the time had come for party leaders at all levels to adopt changes as the old Umno style was no longer accepted by the people.

Muhyiddin, who is also the Pagoh Barisan Nasional chairman, said Umno leaders, state representatives and MPs should start working together with other component party leaders and go down to meet the people.

Although they had been working to bring greater development and growth in their areas for years, they were seen as only serving and working for the Malays, he said.

He said something was wrong when Umno or Barisan candidates lost in areas regarded by the party or component parties as their strongholds.

He said in the 2004 election, MCA won the Bakri parliamentary seat by some 19,000 votes but failed to regain the seat in 2008.

“I used to win with a big majority in Pagoh but last year I only won by about 6,000 votes.”

“I want all Umno branch leaders to go down and meet the people and if they do not support Umno or Barisan, ask them why. We must know why the people do not support us and listen to their views or complaints and make efforts to regain their support,” he added.