KUALA LUMPUR: Rebranding Barisan Nasional to reel in young voters is one of the three pillars of the "Moving Forward" framework, says coalition chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The Umno president said this after attending the Barisan Nasional Convention held at the World Trade Centre here Saturday (Dec 7) in conjunction with the coalition’s golden jubilee celebrations this year.
“What I mean by rebranding is not a change of logo (and as such) but more of being attractive to the young voters who are not being reached by the Barisan machinery (during elections),” said Ahmad Zahid.
He said that there is a need to reel in the young voters if the coalition wants to win big in the next general election.
Earlier in his speech, Ahmad Zahid said that the coalition must step out of the shadows of nostalgia of past successes.
He said that the defeat in 2018, which booted Barisan out of Putrajaya, was a bitter lesson that should not be repeated, and the coalition needs to accept the reality for change.
“In the past, Barisan Nasional stood strong with 13 component parties, but the defeat in the 2018’s general election weakened part of our strength. Now, we are down to just four.
“Our survival depends on our readiness to open space for political cooperation. After 2018, we worked to form political coalitions with Muafakat Nasional, Perikatan Nasional, and now, we are destined to be together in the unity government.
“Let us step out of the shadows of the past and together create a brighter future. Barisan is no longer a party of nostalgia, but must become a party of the future.
“Many view Barisan as no longer relevant, like an old political partner who has fallen behind and is seen as out of step with the aspirations of the younger generation.
“Our image is often trapped in nostalgia. Past achievements are celebrated, but the future remains uncertain and unclear.
“This is the reality we must acknowledge. We must move forward, open-minded, aware of the truth, and free ourselves from the cocoon of denial.
“Barisan can no longer live off past successes. Barisan must be a catalyst for the changing times – an agent of change.
"Let this convention be the starting point for engineering a better future for all of us,” said Ahmad Zahid.
He listed the five changes the coalition leaders must take - let go of party ego, expand inclusivity, adapt to change, embrace new political norms and manage priorities.
“We must admit, some of our actions have not kept up with the times. True, victory is important, but it is not everything. What is more important is the process of building sustainable strength.
“I want us to create a more strategic and relevant plan that is not outdated. We cannot only rely on quick success without careful planning,” said Ahmad Zahid, who called for a coalition retreat.
The event was attended by leaders from all component parties including Umno, MCA, MIC, PBRS and Friends of BN.
About 5,000 delegates attended the one-day convention.
Meanwhile, Bernama reported that the other two pillars of the "Moving Forward" framework are "Redefine" and "Realign".
