Close issue of political funding, focus on people's interests - Najib

The prime minister said the interests of the people would be neglected if the party only focus on the issue of political funding.

He said the people's interests and what they aspired for should be the party's main agenda which needed to be given the appropriate attention.

"As long as we care about the people, those who do not have enough income, do not own affordable houses, do not go to school, the people with this kind of living environment should be in the range of what our party is fighting for.

"If we can give attention on this matter, I believe we can remedy the situation," he said when officiating the Kepala Batas UMNO delegates meeting in the Industrial Training Institute here today.

Also present were former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican, Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya, state UMNO Liaison chairman Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Osman and Kepala Batas UMNO divisonal leaders.

Najib said the mass media, particularly the social media had confused the thinking of the people so that inaccurate matters could become accurate.

Hence, he said all party members must play a role in correcting the perception of the people by explaining the issues raised.

"My fate is to be prime minister of social media that has become the mainstream media and no longer the print media. This is what happened in the 13th general election when they twisted a story that we have purportedly brought in 40,000 Bangladeshi nationals as voters in the last election.

"Can you imagine this kind of thing, the story is not even true, not being investigated, and its authencity certainly unaccepted. Until polling day, anyone who look like a Bangladeshi was chased out," he said.

On another matter, Najib was confident UMNO could address any challenges if all members love the party.

Citing Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as an example, he said the latter had never sulked, got angry or curse UMNO even though he was dropped from the Cabinet but continue to help the party campaigned in Johor Bahru.