Prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the fact that he is the first UMNO president elected through a system that is more open and democratic after the amendment of the party constitution, should be respected by all party members.
Thus, he said, calls by several parties for him to relinquish his position were improper as they ignored the wishes of the majority of party members.
"As the party president, I am most thankful for your support, and why was I chosen? Through what process? Through the election process in the party, where the party constitution was amended (in 2009)," he said when addressing the guests at the UMNO Veterans' Evening With the President, at the Putra World Trade Centre, here Monday.
Najib said the election system for the top leadership now was more open and transparent compared to the previous system, where it used the bonus vote and quota system to retain the top party posts.
He said if he had wanted to retain the top leadership post for 22 years like the fourth prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (1981-2003), he would not have agreed with the suggestion to amend the party constitution.
Najib said while UMNO was facing numerous challenges, he would continue to struggle in the interest of the party and strive to improve whatever weaknesses there were.
"We want to look after the party, we cannot destroy our party, (because) our party is our saviour...the Malays have no where else to go to depend on except for this hallowed party. Do not destroy UMNO, Love UMNO and Look after UMNO," he said, adding that every problem could be rectified and resolved through consensus.
According to Najib, although UMNO was facing numerous challenges, the party was still strong and could still lead the nation.
"Only when we are divided from within, then it can result in us losing power," he said.
Meanwhile, Najib reminded those present that his involvement in politics was to continue the struggles of his late father, Tun Abdul Razak who was also the second prime minister.
"If the late Tun Abdul Razak was the father of development, the founder of the NEP (New Economic Policy), creator of MARA (Majlis Amanah Rakyat), Felda (Federal Land Development Authority), RISDA (Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority), BERNAS (Padiberas Nasional Berhad), Bank Bumiputra and
various other agencies and bodies...
"Then I as his son, am determined to not only continue his struggles, but also take our country, the Malaysians, the Malays, to greater heights. This is my commitment," he said.
He pointed out that every policy that he introduced and implemented did not deviate from the party's principles and struggles.
The prime minister said although the NEP no longer existed, the agenda to empower the Malays and Bumiputera would continue to be promoted to become the national agenda as long as he was leading the administration.
For example, he said, the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) project between Sungai Buloh and Kajang allocated almost 48 percent of the overall contracts to Bumiputera-owned companies.
"Who said (the policy of the Barisan Nasional government now) does not help the Malays and Bumiputera? Not only does it help, it even strengthens such policy.
"Previously there was no Teraju (Bumiputera Agenda Steering Unit), now there is Teraju to coordinate the agenda to empower the Bumiputeras where we meet every month," he added.
In addition, Najib said, he had long struggled for the interests of the Malay and Bumiputera students, including the initiative to boost the integrity of Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) way back during his tenure as the Education Minister (1995-1999).
"Who empowered ITM (Institut Teknologi Mara) to become a university? Was it not me when I was the Education Minister then? Who set the target of 200,000 student entry into UiTM? Was it not me when I was the Deputy Prime Minister then?" he added.
Regarding the 'negative perception' of the community on the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) investment fund, Najib said he was optimistic the matter could be resolved using the right formula.
"(If) there are problems, we rectify them, we discuss through consensus to reach a solution. I am convinced that there are no problems that cannot be resolved because they have their (own) formula, including the 1MDB which has its formula," he added.
The prime minister reminded everyone against politicising things carried out by the government in the interest of the people, for example the purchase of the Tun Razak Exchange (TRX) land by Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) recently.
"TH made a purchase, what was good became bad. The story was twisted as though the depositors' funds were used for the purchase...(they) became angry when they only hear but do not know the facts.
"But after knowing, they hit their foreheads, (they) say the TH should have kept it, because it can earn more than RM180 million in profits," he said.
In addition, Najib also expressed his appreciation to UMNO veterans under the leadership of Tan Sri Tajol Rosli Ghazali as the chairman, for continuing to support his leadership.
He said the support of all party members, including the UMNO veterans, did not mean it was their support for him personally, but the support was to ensure that the party remained relevant to lead the nation.
Bernama
Mon May 18 2015
NAJIB: As Tun Abdul Razak's son, I am determined to not only continue his struggles, but also take our country, the Malaysians, the Malays, to greater heights.
[TERKINI] Tragedi Helikopter Bertembung: Sidang Media Menteri Pertahanan
Ikuti langsung sidang media Menteri Pertahanan Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin susulan tragedi helikopter bertembung dan terhempas di Pangkalan Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia (TLDM), Lumut pada Selasa. #AWANInews
Projek solar: Mahkamah dengar rayuan Rosmah pada 23 dan 24 Okt
Dalam pengurusan hari ini, Rosmah diwakili Akberdin dan Datuk Jagjit Singh manakala Timbalan Pendakwa Raya K. Mangai hadir mewakili pihak pendakwaan.
Pelaksanaan SKDS 2.0 bantu elak ketirisan, seludup diesel berterusan
Pelaksanaan Pelaksanaan Sistem Kawalan Diesel Bersubsidi 2.0 (SKDS 2.0) bersama Industri Pengangkutan Barangan merupakan langkah dalam mewujudkan persekitaran kondusif bagi mengelak ketirisan.
Nahas helikopter Lumut: Pengamal media, orang ramai diminta tidak sebar video insiden
Beliau berkata dalam situasi sekarang, orang ramai seharusnya menghormati waris dan keluarga mangsa yang terlibat dalam nahas itu kerana video tersebut akan memberi kesan kepada mereka.
Nestlé Malaysia kembali perkenal peraduan Nestlé Gaji Seumur Hidup, bantu penuhi impian rakyat Malaysia
Nestle Malaysia memperkenalkan semula peraduan Nestle Gaji Seumur Hidup sebagai sebahagian daripada komitmen berterusan dalam meningkatkan kesejahteraan rakyat dan menyumbang kepada komuniti tempatan.
Wanita simbah OKU dengan air panas dipenjara 10 tahun, hakim sifatkan kejam
Mahkamah menyifatkan perbuatan seorang wanita yang menyimbah air panas terhadap lelaki sindrom Down sebagai kejam dan tidak berperikemanusiaan.
Malaysia kecam serangan Israel di Rafah
Wisma Putra dalam satu kenyataan pada Selasa memaklumkan menjelaskan situasi di Rafah amat membimbangkan mengambil kira risiko bencana kemanusiaan yang tinggi.
Tunjuk perasaan pelajar AS gesa genjatan senjata Gaza
Polis menahan puluhan individu dalam perhimpunan pro-Palestin di Universiti Yale pada Isnin
Perkembangan terkini nahas helikopter TLDM di Lumut
Wartawan, Umavathi Ramayah membawakan perkembangan semasa nahas helikopter di Lumut.
Penyiasatan melalui data sistem pemantauan penerbangan
Ketua Unit Penerbangan Mencari dan Menyelamat, Prof Madya MEJAR Dr Mohd Harridon Suffian, berkata usaha mengenalpasti data penting akan ditumpukan oleh pasukan mencari dan menyelamat bagi melengkapkan siasatan berhubung nahas.
1MDB: SPRM ke Riyadh untuk sahkan surat derma RM2.6 bilion - Saksi
Penguasa Kanan SPRM Nur Aida Arifin berkata pihaknya telah pergi ke Istana Riyadh pada 2015 bagi mengadakan pertemuan dengan dua putera Arab Saudi.
1MDB: Najib tak dedah mengenai pertemuan dengan Raja Arab Saudi ketika siasatan - Saksi
Najib tidak memaklumkan kepada SPRM mengenai pertemuan delegasi Malaysia bersama Raja Arab Saudi, Almarhum Raja Abdullah Abdul Aziz Al-Saud.
1MDB: Muhammad Shafee ditegur hakim kerana bersikap 'keterlaluan'
Ketua peguam bela yang mewakili Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak ditegur apabila dilihat menyerang kredibiliti pengawai penyiasat Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) ketika perbicaraan.
Mahkamah tolak permohonan 1MDB untuk pindah kes saman AS$6.5 bilion
Pesuruhjaya Kehakiman turut mengarahkan 1MDB membayar kos RM4,000 masing-masing kepada Arul Kanda dan Mohd Irwan.
Mahkamah Rayuan tetapkan 20 Ogos untuk dengar rayuan Najib gugurkan hakim
Tarikh itu ditetapkan hari ini susulan pengurusan kes di hadapan penolong kanan pendaftar Mahkamah Rayuan Nurul Azrina Mohamed Yusof.
Disekat dari ke luar negara, tetapi tidak ditahan - Bekas Pengarah SRC
Shahrol memberitahu beliau tidak ditahan pihak berkuasa berkaitan urus niaga syarikat itu, namun disekat daripada ke luar negara.
Tiada perjanjian dengan pendakwaan untuk beri keterangan terhadap Najib - Jasmine Loo
Bekas peguam 1MDB sekali lagi menegaskan bahawa beliau tidak membuat sebarang perjanjian dengan pihak pendakwaan untuk memberi keterangan terhadap Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
Perbicaraan kes 1MDB terpaksa ditangguh selepas Najib disahkan alami cirit-birit
Dr Mohd Hafiz berkata ubat-ubatan yang diberikan mungkin menyebabkan rasa mengantuk dan Najib perlu berehat sekurang-kurangnya dua hari.
Pengurusan 1MDB sepatutnya lakukan usaha wajar mengenai PSI - Saksi
Mahkamah Tinggi diberitahu bahawa pengurusan 1MDB sepatutnya telah melakukan usaha wajar mengenai kewujudan PSI sebelum dana 1MDB disalurkan kepada PSI untuk tujuan usaha sama.
Kerajaan sudah bayar RM48.06 bilion hutang 1MDB
Menteri Kewangan II, Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan memberitahu, jumlah itu termasuk bayaran AS$3 bilion (RM14.2 bilion) yang dibuat pada Mac 2023 menerusi Belanjawan 2023.