Malaysiakini Oct 16, 10 11:41pm
Prime Minister Najib Razak is baffled that there are civil servants and government pensioners who preferred to support the opposition.
“We have to look into this … this is not right. Maybe because they were angry with a few, they decided to ditch the whole ship,” he said when launching an Umno Club for retired senior government officers at his official residence, Seri Perdana, today.
“Civil servants should know better that it is only Umno that can ensure our survival.”
He then launched a broadside against the opposition PKR.
“Look at what is happening at a party on the other side now. Chairs flying, members suffering broken arms, sprained limbs. And all because someone wants to occupy the prime minister’s residence in Putrajaya,” he said.
“I want to ask who were the ones who questioned Article 153 in the Constitution? Malay privileges; who questioned them?
“Who caused the incident of not offering prayers for the well-being of the king? Who wanted Universiti Teknologi Mara to be opened to the non-Malays. Not Umno, but the other side,” he said.
At the same time, he said Umno must continue to be seen as a party that was principled and had consideration for others.
“We must be fair… fair to the Malays as well as the non-Malays in the country. Only then we can have a nation that is united, strong and successful,” he said.
“There cannot be a situation where the majority group owns the least wealth. That is not a good recipe for long term stability.”
A New Political Model
According to Najib, the good track record of a ruling party can no longer guarantee that it would continue to remain in power.
He said a new political model might have to be introduced to ensure Umno continued to lead the nation.
“We not only need a New Economic Model, we might also need a New Political Model,” Najib, who is also Umno president, said the strategy of politics of development was no longer effective now.
“The reason why people are rejecting political parties that have contributed a lot over the years is because of parties that did not change. They are seen as rigid and not dynamic.”
Nevertheless, he said a new political model would not change the objectives of Umno’s struggle but instead in the methods employed to sustain its cause in the context of changes taking place all around.
“People are saying the environment has changed but the old methodology is still being used when it should be new environment, new methodology. Only then Umno will be seen as a party that is dynamic.”
– Bernama