UMNO Youth chief Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said he will rid the party of its elitist image, so as to fix the public’s perception of members.

He said it is crucial for members to listen to the voice of the country’s youth.

“Most importantly, we have to get rid of the elitist ‘costume’. When we do our tours to all 191 divisions, no more staying at hotels,” he told reporters at the Putra World Trade Centre tonight.

He joked that touring members will, instead, stay at the homes of division chiefs.

Asked about the debate to be held between Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Khairy Jamaluddin and Tengku Razaleigh Tengku Hamzah, who are vying for the president’s post on Saturday, Asyraf said debates should be encouraged.

“I fully agree, and I truly love academic debates.

“And as the new (Youth) chief, it will be among the programmes we want to rejuvenate.

“One should be brave to face anyone in a debate, because we cannot be ‘one-way traffic’,” he said, adding that debates lead to positive outcomes.

He said during the campaign period, he received an encouraging response from the grassroots, and given the polls result, “they have spoken”.

“Many voluntarily showed up and supported my machinery. It was an organic machinery.”

Asyraf has been officially declared the new Youth chief, with Shahril Sufian Hamdan winning the deputy’s post.

Asyraf’s rivals were Senator Khairul Azwan Harun, Pahang Youth chief Shahar Abdullah, and Sungai Besar division chief and fugitive Jamal Md Yunos. – June 24, 2018.