Barisan Nasional (BN)'s 13 component parties must plan a new approach and work closer together in order to attract the 'new generation' of Malaysian voters, said Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad today.

"We cannot harp on our past successes anymore but must prove our abilities and strength for the future instead," said the premier in his speech at the BN convention in Kuala Lumpur.

Mahathir advised the coalition's members not to concentrate in solving their respective party problems alone but to also help solve that of other parties.

The coalition, formed in 1974 saw fissures emerging last month, when component parties MCA and Gerakan disagreed over the former's takeover of two Chinese dailies, Nanyang Siang Pau and China Press.

MCA had purchased the dailies' publisher, Nanyang Press through the party's investment arm Huaren Holdings for RM230 million cash. The controversial deal ignited a blaze of public protest and also caused an internal conflict.

'Dangerous environment'

Mahathir also rebuked the new generation of voters, stating that they had enjoyed the fruits of development and yet had no deference or gratitude towards BN

"When they were born, they were born in sophisticated hospitals with local doctors, go to schools, given scholarships and jobs were guaranteed. They don't recognise all of this," lamented the premier.

Mahathir, who would be celebrating his 20th year as prime minister on July 16, also warned delegates that they facing a "dangerous new environment" filled with unpatriotic citizens and foreign agents.

"Now our society is more aggressive, places little importance on national interest and there are even those who act as supporters of foreign governments. They have no patriotic sentiments," he said.

In his one and a half hour speech, Mahathir also mooted the idea of turning BN into a single party instead of having 13 components.

"The BN may become one but that will take time. The various races are still wary of each other but once we raise the economic status of everyone then there would be less suspicion and racial factors would be lessened as well," he said.

Deceitful opposition

Landing a jab on opposition parties, Mahathir said the Barisan Alterntif (BA) was not "the genuine material" and that it was merely a Barisan Tiruan (imitation front).

"They (the opposition) see our cooperation and wish to copy it but they are only enemies rushing to embrace each other. Their copy does not have quality because only Barisan Nasional is genuine," he said.

Mahathir added that the opposition parties in the coalition - PAS, Keadilan, DAP and PRM are merely deceiving one another.

"PAS uses deceit and it is deceiving Keadilan. I am saddened by this and when will Keadilan realise it, why don't they just join PAS?" he stated.

"DAP is also nearing its end and as long as they hold onto PAS they will fail. They hug him from the front but ride him in the back," Mahathir said, adding that PRM on the hand, had no members but only leaders.

The convention, held at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) saw a packed attendance of more than 3,000 people.