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`Think outside the box' [New Straits Time (Malaysia)](New Straits Time (Malaysia) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) GERIK: UMNO members have been urged to adopt an out-of-the-box approach to keep in touch with rapid changes taking place among the people and the country. Umno deputy president and Barisan Nasional deputy chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said with the Malay community progressing rapidly, there was also high expectations from the party due to the growth and influence of information and communications technology (ICT). He said ICT enabled people to have faster access to the latest information and events taking place globally. "With the Internet, all of us can access information in real time. Party members must think and act fast, too, in tandem with the changes taking place," said the deputy prime minister. In his speech at the opening of Lenggong Umno division meeting here yesterday, he noted that although Umno had managed to defend its position and continued as government of the day, the situation had, nevertheless, undergone changes. "Society has gone through changes in terms of mind-set due to the wealth of information available online. Hence, Umno members must also condition their minds and think in a new way because society's view has changed, too," he added, noting that Umno was well aware of the changes and expectations of all communities. Muhyiddin also called on members to have their own think tanks and come out with ideas to make the party stronger and more effective. "We have to act fast as we have less than four years before the next general election. We need new awareness, acceptance and support from the people. In short, we need the 'wow' factor." Later, in Sungai Siput, Muhyiddin urged Umno members to be more united to further strengthen the party. He said Umno was becoming stronger by the year with increased Malay support and pointed out that the party's membership had increased to more than 3.5 million members nationwide. Muhyiddin reminded party members that as their strength grew, the party must also gain from the momentum to enable it to serve the Malay interest as well as look after the interest of other communities. He also asked Umno members to take cognisance that the country's economic growth, prosperity, physical development and wealth were due to the struggle and vision of Umno leaders, past and present. Muhyiddin, who is also education minister, announced that the government would build a fully-residential religious school, the first in Sungai Siput. This followed proposals and appeals from the Sungai Siput division's Umno leadership, he revealed. Present were Perak Umno and Barisan Nasional liaison chief, and Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir. (c) 2014 ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved. |