Datuk Seri Najib Razak said UMNO members should have a strong family bond attribute, because it is the true power in the party.

The UMNO president said any split in the party, particularly arising from differences of opinion, would only be detrimental to the party, and could lead to its defeat in the next election.

Citing the two State Assembly seat losses in Pekan in the 1999 general election, which was said to have been borne out of differences in opinion, he warned that it should not happen again.

"The reason was that most of the UMNO members did not support the candidates. It will be a critical situation if the members themselves do not support and endorse the selected candidates," he said when winding up debate during the Pekan UMNO divison delegates' meeting here today.

Najib also reminded UMNO leaders to be transparent in reporting the true situation in their respective areas, whether good or bad.

"Tell the true picture, help people and solve their problems with honesty and sincerity. For the Pekan constituency, please let me know if there are problems such as water supply or the like. I do not want to just receive a report that everything is OK, but in reality it is not OK.

"We can't assume the hardcore supporters of UMNO do not need any assistance," he said.

Najib also reminded UMNO members keep abreast of the changing times, especially the development of social media as a means to disseminate information quickly and widely.

UMNO, he said, needed to use the new weapon to fend off attacks from various parties who wanted to discredit the party and government.