UMNO’s overhaul following its stunning loss in GE14 must take into account all of the party’s weaknesses and not just blame its past president Najib Razak as the sole reason for defeat, Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin said.

He said even though Najib had stepped down, the entire leadership should bear responsibility for the party’s dismal performance.

“We must take time to deeply reflect as even though our former president Najib Razak has stepped down, the party’s huge losses in GE14 is a responsibility that all leaders should share.

“We have to accept the principle of shared responsibility in this defeat.

“If we think that our defeat is because of one person only, we are not learning anything from this,” Khairy said at a press conference at the Umno Youth office today.

Umno Youth representatives were among the first to call for Najib to step down after GE14, where Barisan Nasional won only 79 out of 222 parliamentary seats, of which 54 were Umno’s. In GE13, Umno won 88 seats and BN still had the majority in Parliament.

Khairy said Umno needed to choose leaders of calibre who can lead “total systemic change to reset the party”, regardless of age or seniority.

“Umno needs to be led by leaders who can lead. It is not about whether they are young or are veterans, but based on who the grassroots want.

“If we think that only youth can lead youth, or only women can take care of women, that kind of thinking is obsolete,” he said. – May 14, 2018.