The online UMNO membership application process will be introduced once again.

UMNO Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin said this was among the announcement made by the party president, Datuk Seri Najib Razak during a two-hour closed door meeting with UMNO representatives nationwide at Putra World Trade Centre today.

“The president mentioned a change in the Umno membership (application) process where we will introduce the online registration process and this time it will be made simpler and approval will be faster at the headquarters and no longer at the division.

“The reason is because we received a lot of complaints that if applications are made by the division, it is slow and there are times where forms go missing and there are various obstacles for young people to join the party," said Khairy said during a press conference soon after the closed-door meeting.

Khairy said, with the online system being handled at the headquarters level, he is confident that this would allow more younger generation to join UMNO.

"For me this is a good sign. The president has dared to show that UMNO is ready to change our membership process to make it more friendly for young people.

“The youthfulness of the party is the main focus. Not only to attract young members but new faces as a whole. Our party should have rejuvenation at every level," he said.

Meanwhile, UMNO supreme council member, Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir said Najib's speech reflected what has always been told by former Prime Minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

"In fact, I found that the president's speech reflects what Tun said about party leadership at the state level, divisions and branches must be more inclusive, especially to provide opportunities for the younger generation.

"It has also been mentioned in chedet.com. And I believe that the president is also aware of uur culture which sometimes obstructs the younger people of calibre from being directly involved with the party,” he said.

The online registration for UMNO memberships was announced by former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in 2009 where every application received will be included in the PWTC branch while the review process is made together with the branch and division involved.