UMNO VOWS TO WIN BACK VOTERS' TRUST

PUTRAJAYA: About 100 Umno division leaders from four states yesterday pledged to work harder to regain the confidence of voters, especially the young.

The leaders, including ministers from Malacca, Negri Sembilan, Selangor and the Federal Territory, were seen entering the official residence of the prime minister, Sri Perdana, about 5pm.

In the closed-door meeting that lasted about three hours, Barisan Nasional chairman and Umno president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his deputy, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, took turns to address the leaders.

During a dialogue session, several leaders took the opportunity to reveal their respective post-mortems of their performances in the general election.

There were also leaders who criticised the Umno leadership over the party's worst performance in the elections.
A division leader who did not want to be named said Abdullah stressed the need for all Umno divisions and committees to identify the people's grouses relating to inflation, crime, racial issues and accusations against the government on the Internet.

The prime minister also called on them to think up new ideas to attract youths, especially first-time voters.

While allocations for youth programmes had been set aside before the general election, he noted that they had not been fully utilised.

The prime minister reiterated that his relationship with his deputy was cordial.

Najib, in a speech later, confirmed this.

Najib reminded division leaders, especially those in the five states which had fallen to the opposition - Perak, Selangor, Penang, Kedah and Kelantan - to "work harder in order to go against the tide".

He also told them of the need to work out strategies to attract constituents, especially first-time voters and youths.

Today, another 200 division leaders from Perak, Kedah and Penang will meet Abdullah and Najib.

Tomorrow, about 150 more division leaders from Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang will be meeting both leaders for the same purpose.

Also present yesterday were Umno secretary-general Da-tuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, vice-president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Umno information chief and newly-appointed Umno Selangor head Tan Sri Muhammad Muhd Taib, Negri Sembilan Umno chief Datuk Seri Mohamad Hassan, Wanita chief Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz and her deputy, Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil, Puteri Umno chief Datuk Noraini Ahmad, Tampin Umno chief Datuk Shahziman Mansor, who is Energy, Water and Communication Minister, and Entrepreneur and Co-operative Development Minister Datuk Noh Omar, who is also Tanjung Karang Umno chief.

Titiwangsa Umno division chief Datuk Seri Suleiman Mohamed said the meeting was held to strengthen the party.

"We are confident the present government will proceed to improve the situation and the party. There was no hostility whatsoever, we had dialogues and discussed party matters," he said, adding that Abdullah also wanted the Umno election machinery to focus on the people's woes.

Deputy Defence Minister Datuk Wira Abu Seman Yusof said strategies to win back the people's confidence and faith in the government and overcoming the party's shortcomings were discussed and charted out.

"We also heard what Umno in the states had to say."

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