BALING, Nov 2 (Bernama) -- Umno members must stop regarding Umno as a sacred party that it cannot be criticised and reformed, said Jerlun member of parliament Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir.
"If the members still think that Umno is a party that cannot change, then the party cannot prevail and will be destroyed sooner or later.
"As a result of certain factors due to weaknesses in the party, Umno is now being challenged from within and outside, and its future will depend on the courage of party members to reform it with a new model," he said at a forum on "Muslim Malay Politics: Conflict and Resolution", organised by the Baling Umno division, here today.
He said Umno members must be brave to effect change if they regarded Umno as the bastion of the struggle of the Malays.
Mukhriz said in a situation where Umno was seen as rather weak, the other Barisan Nasional component parties started issuing threats, and raising and questioning various matters.
Meanwhile, Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar in his speech, said the stern action taken against the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) was in the interest of national security.
He said such action had also been taken against the Al Arqam movement and when it was banned, the Malays however did not react as the Hindraf supporters had.
Syed Hamid said the Internal Security Act was not used indiscriminately as alleged by some quarters, but under certain circumstances to safeguard national security.
-- BERNAMA
