Najib: Selangor UMNO needs reforms to recapture the state

Selangor Umno has to be brave in outlining new strategy and to change its mindset if it wants to recapture the state, party president, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said today.

The prime minister also outlined three realities which the Selangor Umno should accept.

They are Umno's position as an opposition party, Selangor's strategic location as an active socio-economic centre, and the need to work hard to win the support of the urban and semi-urban voters, he said.

He said the Selangor Umno could no longer continue with its old strategy with the hope of getting a different outcome.

"If no change in strategy, direction, approach and mindset, can we hope for the outcome to be different.

"Do we need an extraordinary mentality, a strategy that is different from the norms and out of the box thinking to determine the success that we have been longing for," he said when opening the Selangor Umno Convention at the Putra World Trade Centre here today.

Najib said the Selangor Umno should also take advantage of the leadership problems among the opposition pact in the state to restore the people's support for Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN).

Referring to the water crisis in Selangor and the 'Kajang move' as examples, he said they only created problems for the Selangor people.

"We have to show the Selangor people that the Umno leadership is better, more meaningful, more honest with the people, emphasises more importance on caring for the people," he added.

At the same time, Najib also criticised Selangor Umno, saying that it was still slow and wanted the state liaison committee to buck up in its preparations for the coming 14th general election.

"We are still slow. I look at the numbers, I want to say we are still slow. Why is there no increase in the number of voters, Umno members?," he asked.

BN did badly in Selangor in the 12th and 13th general election.

In the 13th general election, BN only won 12 state seats, from 20 in the previous general election.

Najib said he believed that Selangor Umno could win back the state if it was able to restore its confidence following its dismal performances in the previous two general elections.

"There is nothing that will make me happy than to gain back our pride in the coming general election. Nothing will make me happier than to see Umno back in power in Selangor," he added.

Also present at the convention were Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor and the Selangor Umno liaison committee chairman Datuk Seri Noh Omar.