UMNO veterans need a new approach - Zahid Hamidi

"UMNO veterans are not only nostalgic, but need to stay on the ground." UMNO vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said this during a speech in front of more than 500 veterans in conjunction with UMNO's 4th General Assembly held at the Regency Hotel in Kuala Lumpur. He said the mindset of voters has changed and better communication is required in order to gain their support. "60 per cent of voters are in the city. This landscape should be recognized and their mindset has changed. "This change is because of municipal urbanisation via social mobility or vertical mobility," he explained. He gave the example of veteran leaders such as former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, who is able to lure the support of the younger generation, although there were more veterans in the party. "Tun Dr Mahathir is more senior but his communication approach towards social media is good. "Who thinks Tun M is irrelevant, is wrong," said Zahid. He added that UMNO veterans should not feel left out and discouraged as their struggle for the party is never forgotten by the young leaders of the party. "So do not feel left out, like my example in 1998 where I am? But I'm not discouraged. Not that I have to advocate myself, but I have to advocate UMNO," he added.