KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional could draw on public nostalgia for its past achievements, says Khairy Jamaluddin while warning that this alone would not be enough to convince voters.
The former Umno youth chief said Agenda Malaysia Biru should form the main policy framework for Barisan’s manifesto in the next general election.
“We can sell nostalgia - ‘bring back the good old days’ - but it is not enough.
“Because the next question is, what's next?” he said at the 12th BN Forum, themed “Agenda Malaysia Biru”, at Menara Dato’ Onn here on Wednesday (Oct 7).
Also present was Deputy Prime Minister and Barisan chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The forum was moderated by Barisan secretary-general Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir, with panellists MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong, Khairy, Tan Sri Nordin Kardi of Jakarta Business School and political analyst Prof Datuk Dr Sivamurugan Pandian.
Khairy said Barisan must show voters what it could offer future generations instead of relying solely on the achievements of previous administrations.
He pointed to Barisan’s victory in the Johor state election as an example of a campaign built not merely on nostalgia, but also on hope for “better days to come”.
“That was hope. That was not nostalgia,” he said.
Khairy said four elements should underpin Barisan’s approach heading into the next general election - nostalgia, a forward-looking vision, national unity and dissatisfaction with the status quo.
He warned, however, against assuming that voter rejection of the status quo alone would be enough.
“If we rely solely on the rejection of the status quo, it is dangerous,” he said.
Khairy said Agenda Malaysia Biru could provide the forward-looking component, but its policy aspirations needed to be simplified so that they could be clearly understood by the public.
He described the agenda as more of a policy statement than a political statement, adding that its broad vision must eventually be translated into concrete proposals for Barisan’s election manifesto.
“We have to simplify it so that the people understand Agenda Malaysia Biru,” he added.
