UMNO's success as the pillar of the Barisan Nasional (BN) government would not have been achieved today without the strong support of the millions of party members, said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak.

The UMNO president said the success and blessings of the party were also enjoyed by the Malaysians as a whole.

"Much has been achieved by the country to date. Barisan Nasional as a responsible government, and with the strong support of UMNO and its coalition partners, has always fulfilled its pledges by providing services for the Malaysian people.

"UMNO does not only serve the Malays but all races regardless of race, religion or background," he said.

Najib, who is also the Prime Minister, said this when officiating the groundbreaking ceremony for the development of the KL Putra World Trade Centre (KL PWTC), here today.

Also present at the event were the two party vice-presidents namely Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is carrying out the duties of UMNO deputy president, and Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Tun Hussein, UMNO secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, leaders of the Wanita, Youth and Puteri movements and members of the UMNO Supreme Council and delegates to the 2016 UMNO General Assembly from throughout the country.

Najib said the UMNO struggles currently were full of nostalgia and happiness but this should not make the party members complacent.

"On the other hand, it should give us strength to continue to go through the times. After having gone through seven decades, UMNO is more mature in fulfilling the needs of the Malays and Bumiputera so thay they will continue to be a sovereign race," he said.

Najib later officiated the historic groundbreaking ceremony for the development project which would become the new iconic landmark in the federal capital. -- BERNAMA