UMNO should review its constitution so that membership is open to all races, in view of the nation’s changing political landscape, said Pahang party chief Adnan Yaakob.

The former menteri besar said Umno should no longer be seen as championing only the welfare of Malays.

“Maybe we should revisit what the founder of Umno, Onn Jaafar, had in mind, that is, for Umno to be a multiracial party,” he said at an event to announce the state Umno’s candidates for the party’s polls in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

“No more special privileges (for Malays). Special privileges should be only for the underprivileged.

“If there are Malays facing difficulties, we should help them, and the same goes for Chinese and Indians.”

However, he said, in opening the doors to other races, the special position of Islam and the Malay rulers must not be compromised.

The late Onn left Umno in 1951 when his call for the party to open its membership to all races was rejected by members. – Bernama, June 7, 2018.