Umno today kicked off its annual general assembly with plans to soothe troubled race relations in the multi-ethnic country ahead of national elections tipped for early next year.

Angry speeches attacking the country's Chinese and Indian communities overshadowed the last Umno assembly, triggering public outrage and embarrassing its leaders.

This year, Umno vice-president Muhyiddin Yassin said the goal of the party - which traditionally represents Muslim Malays, who dominate the population - would be to promote national unity.

"We are interested in creating a better rapport and understanding, promoting racial harmony and unity," he told AFP.

"It is important that members of the party understand this. As much as we fought for the struggle of our own race, we must appreciate the problems of the others. So that will create the basis for national unity."

Muhyiddin made it clear that the party, which heads the Barisan Nasional coalition, was preparing for elections.

He called for "better understanding" between Umno and the other ethnic parties in the coalition "to face the general elections which we believe will be very soon."

Common destiny

Muhyiddin defended Umno's track record with other races and the government's policy of promoting Muslim Malays through a four-decade campaign of positive-discrimination known as the National Economic Policy (NEP).

"The NEP is not just for the Malays. It is for all," he said. "It is still relevant and we think this is something that will enhance the standing of all Malaysians, irrespective of race."

Trade Minister Rafidah Aziz, who is also head of Umno's influential women's wing, urged better understanding between races, which in recent years have become more polarised.

"We have a common destiny as Malaysians," she told reporters. "If this country collapses, we all collapse together. If this country prospers, we all prosper together."

BN has governed Malaysia for almost half a century. Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi won 2004 elections in a landslide, winning 198 out of 219 parliamentary seats and all but one of the states.