UMNO 70 years: UMNO's struggle began as a pressure group against the formation of Malayan Union - Najib

UMNO began with the noble struggle of demanding the British government to abolish the Malayan Union and followed by the formation of the Federation of Malaya.

The Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak who is also UMNO president said the event paved the way for the independence of Malaya in 1957.

"Thank God, today, it has been 70 years since UMNO was founded. In a period of 70 years, we have gone through various challenges and success together," he said in his latest www.najibrazak.com blog posting titled 'UMNO 70 years' here last night.

To date, UMNO has continued to champion the struggles of the Malays and Bumiputera and in the course of 70 years, the party obviously could not run away from its trials and tribulations, he said.

He said some chose not to be with UMNO and form new parties and some chose to get out and in of UMNO according to their own needs and situation but it did not matter, UMNO respects their decision.

"These issues will never break the spirit of UMNO, in fact it helps us to be more matured. I believe UMNO will implement its responsibilities as entrusted by the Malays. UMNO will stand firm to preserve the strength and honour of the Malays.

"The interests of the race will be the top agenda in the struggle of UMNO as the party was founded on the awareness of unity for the continuity of the race and therefore the spirit of unity should be preserved," he said.

Najib urged UMNO members not to allow differences in opinion and misunderstandings to tarnish the harmony of the party but to resolve issues in a cultured manner.

"At this age of maturity, let us pray the struggles of our revered party will continue to be blessed by Allah. I am confident, so long as UMNO stands strong, the Malays will remain prosperous and develop this blessed land called Malaysia. Happy 70th anniversary, UMNO," he said.