‘Umno should focus on young professionals’

‘Umno should focus on young professionals’

KUALA LUMPUR (May 16, 2012): Umno’s three-day 66th anniversary celebrations last week received tremendous response from the younger generation, which proved Umno’s rejuvenation process is gaining pace.

About 70% of the estimated 250,000 who attended were youths.

According to Universiti Teknologi Mara’s Faculty of Administrative Science and Policy Studies dean Prof Datuk Dr Ramlah Adam, the party should give room for participation to young professionals who were described as “determinants of Umno’s political strength”.

He said although youth voters should not be over emphasised by Umno in its rejuvenation process, young professionals aged 45 and above are considered critical as a majority of them tend to be fence sitters or leaning towards the Opposition.

“The focus should be on this group of individuals as they would be key to determining the strength of the government in the future,” he told Bernama here.

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s Faculty of Human Ecology senior lecturer Dr Ma’rof Redzuan was of the opinion that Umno had to change its approach in order to gain respect and belief of the people, especially the younger generation.

Ma’rof said the personality and quality of a leader who is clean and transparent in all endeavours is the main factor considered by the people in determining Umno’s worth, and as such, would determine the party’s continuity, especially its ability to face the upcoming 13th general election.

He said if those values failed to be highlighted by Umno, the people would continue leaning towards the Opposition. – Bernama