Selangor BN pledges to be more inclusive

The Selangor Barisan Nasional (BN) convention began this morning with a promise to be more inclusive and to abandon its racially divisive ideology.

“The Selangor BN cannot be too dependent to the weaknesses and the discord within Pakatan Rakyat to win. Victory is sweeter if it is obtained out of our own collective work,” said the convention chairman

Datuk Seri Mohd Zin Mohamed, speaking at the Shah Alam Convention Centre this morning.

“I am optimist that the Selangor BN is able to draw up action plans. We have to understand the current demands. BN cannot stick to narrow racial ideology. BN cannot use old methodology to address new problems,” he declared to some 1,500 BN grass roots leaders from across the Pakatan Rakyat-controlled (PR) state.

“Umno for example must not only talk about the Malays and Islam but must also fight for the Chinese, Indians and others; it’s the same with MCA, MIC, Gerakan and PPP, we have to be ahead of times,” said Mohd Zin who is also the Sepang Umno division chief.

He also reminded Umno grass roots leaders to set aside their differences on the candidate selection for the Hulu Selangor by-election.

“If we believe in 1 Malaysia, please do not fight over who is going to contest as Barisan Nasional candidate,” said Mohd Zin adding that Umno cannot win Selangor with the support from the Malay community alone.

The Hulu Selangor Umno has been lobbying for a candidate from the Malay party to contest in the rural constituency, but its national leadership had indicated that MIC will continue to represent BN in the by-election.

“If we continue to fan racial sentiment, we will not be able to recapture Selangor,” said Mohd Zin.

He also called on the state party leaders to acknowledge its unpopularity among the younger voters due to its failure to utilise the internet.

“The people will continue to doubt us if BN keeps rejecting reality, slow in reforming,” said Mohd Zin.

The rare convention was organised to draw up plans to recapture the state which was lost to PR during Election 2008.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak who is also the Selangor BN chief will deliver a special address to the delegates in the afternoon.

courtesy of Malaysian Insider