Sunday June 1, 2008 MYT 6:15:53 PM

Big pow-wow for Umno next week

By PAUL GABRIEL

KUALA LUMPUR: The Umno supreme council is gathering at a two-day “no holds barred” retreat to discuss how best to rebuild and move the party forward following its general election setback.

The retreat, scheduled at a hotel in Shah Alam next Thursday and Friday, will be held under a unique format with members divided into various groups to address specific topics and issues.

The overnight “pow wow” is also aimed at formulating a strategy to improve support for the party.

Party president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak will hear views and also provide pointers.

“All supreme council members have been informed about it,” Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor told The Star.

Retreats have been organised for Umno state liaison chiefs and MPs in the past but this is the first time that the party’s highest decision-making body, comprising 52 members, would be involved.

The party supreme council has met several times since the March 8 general election, in which Umno won only 79 of the 109 parliamentary seats it previously held.

The Barisan Nasional coalition, of which Umno is the largest component party, also lost control of the states of Selangor, Perak, Kedah and failed to wrest Kelantan from the Islamist party PAS.