UMNO president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak warned that the Malays will fall flat on the face, be humiliated and become beggars in their own land, if UMNO is destroyed.

He said to prevent this from happening, UMNO members and the Malays must not become careless because the party is facing a challenge like never before.

The prime minister said that one moment of carelessness can destroy UMNO and if it happens, the 'sin' will not be forgiven by future generations.

"What will become of our race? When UMNO is destroyed, everything will become useless, just like copper coins," he said when delivering the president's speech in conjunction with UMNO General Assembly 2016 in front of 2,643 delegates at Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC), here today.

The UMNO president was confident that wins in the Sarawak state election, the Kuala Kangsar and Sungai Besar by-elections would spillover to the 14th general election (GE14).

He ended his speech with a 'madah' (hymn): 'Ibarat pedang di kanan dan terhunus keris di kiri berselempangkan, pula semangat yang tidak mungkin bisa mati' (Flanked by a sword on the right and a dagger on the left, Our Spirit Will Never Die).

"For God's promise to all who seek the reward of success. If not today, tomorrow or the next day, the sun will rise and shine. Come on, without fear and doubt, we rise to fight tooth and nail when the clarion is sounded.

Najib them shouted Hidup UMNO! Hidup Barisan! Hidup Malaysia, (Long Live UMNO, Long Live Barisan, Long Live Malaysia), which were greeted by all the delegates present.

--BERNAMA