Cyber threat on Umno

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno must take on its adversaries on cyberspace that has become the new political battleground, says Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

The party president said members should acquire the ability to fight their opponents in cyberspace, be it to win the hearts and minds of the people or negative perceptions.

He said Umno’s survival depended on what was being said on social media, describing it as “more dangerous than street demonstrations”.

“It is not easy to threaten Umno’s influence through street demos but the party can easily be poisoned through social media. This is a new threat to our party and we need to tackle this,” Najib said.

“I want Umno members to be active on social media. They should have Facebook and Twitter accounts and go after those who attack the party.

“With three million members, we can defend the party and fight our enemies out there,” he said at the opening of the Bandar Tun Razak Umno meeting.

Najib said he was being constantly attacked by Umno’s enemies to weaken the party.

“They are attacking me not because I’m Najib but because I’m Umno president. Our enemies want the party to be weak and fall and I’m their target. I wasn’t attacked like this when I was the deputy president. They are looking for my faults. If there’s none, they will create and spread vicious allegations and slander.

“But what is important is for people in Umno to remain steadfast behind me and the party and not make the situation worse by believing and spreading lies. If we are strong and united, our enemies will not be able to destroy us,” he added.

Najib also hit out at division heads who criticised him over the political fund issue, adding that as Umno president, his actions were made in the interest of the party.

“Whatever I do as Umno president, even if I receive funds, it is all for the party and not for my personal gains,” he said.

He cited as example divisions that were given monthly allocations to run their offices and said that under his leadership, Umno had carried out numerous CSR activities, including sponsoring people to perform pilgrimages and repair dilapidated houses.

“They don’t make noise when they get the money for their divisions. But when I’m attacked, they don’t do anything to defend the party president,” he said.

Najib said he was not an autocra-tic leader who wanted to be surrounded only by people who agreed with his views and policies.

He said he appreciated differen-ces of opinion as they provided perspectives to situations or issues that were varied.

“You can ask Ku Nan (Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor). There are times that he doesn’t agree with me but he is still the party secretary-general and a minister,” he said.

Najib said Umno leaders and members were free to give their views and even argue with him during meetings but when a matter had been decided, everyone should stand behind the party.

“If there’s dissatisfaction, we can go back to the meeting room and thrash things out again,” he said. “But in public, we must show a united and solid front.”