UMNO vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi urged all party members to inculcate the fighting spirit of athletes competing in the 2016 Olympic Games to achieve political success in the 14th General Election.

Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid, who is carrying out the duty of UMNO deputy president, said as in any success in sports, success in politics was also spawned from determination, commitment and continuous training.

"We know that to be successful is not easy, it needs simulation and training. We had never thought of getting bronze, silver and gold medals.

"Even though we may look down or view cynically at our (athletes') capability as we are physically smaller but when practice makes perfect, it proves Malaysia can be at the international stage," he said.

Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid who is also Deputy Prime Minister was opening the Ayer Hitam UMNO division delegates conference at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Datuk Menteri hall, here on Saturday.

Also present were Johor UMNO Liaison Committee chairman cum Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Johor UMNO Liaison Committee secretary Datuk Md Jais Sarday and UMNO Johor Information chief cum Ayer Hitam UMNO division head Datuk Samsolbari Jamali.

Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid said to ensure victory and the recapture of all seats won by the opposition in the last general election, all UMNO members had to talk less and do more.

He said in the current mental state of the people which could be influenced by a more complex communication system, UMNO and Barisan Nasional (BN) should also step up efforts to implement a new form of campaign system.

"To gain victory is difficult but to defend success is even more difficult.

"It is easy to talk but it would not be easy for us to implement. We should have political will as this is the basic value," said Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid who also wanted UMNO members to work sincerely without expecting rewards or payments.