Umno politician Saifuddin Abdullah admitted today that many young Malaysians - although believing in Barisan Nasional’s ideals - were reluctant to join the coalition because they were uncomfortable with its ethnic-based component parties.

Therefore, insofar as colour-blind politics was concerned, the biggest challenger to BN was PKR, he opined.

“If BN were to activate direct membership, then perhaps there will be a direct contest with PKR as it is a real multiracial party," Saifuddin (above) said at a conference organised by think-tank Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute (Asli) in Kuala Lumpur.

He said that a direct membership facility had already been incorporated into BN’s constitution but had not been implemented yet.

Elaborating, Saifuddin described Umno as a 'Yes, Mr President' type of party whereby nobody went against the party supremo.

“The members listen to the president and whether the president speaks out or is elegantly silent, that is his choice,” he said.

'Chinese support returning'

Asked whether BN would continue winning in the next general election, he said he was positive on the matter adding the margin of victory could be increased if Umno helped the coalition's component parties to boost their electoral performance.

“Let BN win the next general election and let the younger generation decide the outcome of the general election after that,” he said.

At the same press conference (right), MCA Youth chief Chong Sin Won echoed Saifuddin's opinion that BN would win the next general election.

He cited last year's Teluk Intan by-election where Gerakan president Mah Siew  Keong defeated DAP’s Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud and the Kajang by-election where MCA vice president Chew Mei Fun, although the losing party, garnered more support compared to her performance in the preceding general election.

“BN will still be in power after the next general election as the reality shows that Chinese voter support (for BN) is coming back,” he said.