KUALA LUMPUR, May 11 — Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has today urged party members to move towards a more progressive nature and avoid being bogged down by rivals’ toxic politics.

As Umno is set celebrate its 77th anniversary tonight, Ahmad Zahid, who is also the deputy prime minister, said that the party must remain strong to face its nemesis’ smear campaign against the oldest political party in the country.

"Let’s polish the spirit and idealism of the party’s historic struggle and build a more progressive Umno and come up with fresh ideas to face the opposition’s toxic politics that is divided by narrow racism and extreme religious sentiments without thinking about the responsibility to build a nation state,” he said on his Facebook page here.

Ahmad Zahid also reminded Umno members to go back to the party’s historical roots and said that the party started out as a political movement to champion the people’s aspirations and not as an "elite” group with vested interests.

He said that the toxic rhetoric being played out by Umno’s enemies such as divisive racial and religious views should not be entertained, especially with the government’s efforts to protect the country’s diversity.

"From the background of various races, regions, religions, classes and professions, we make it a strength that needs to be celebrated instead of being used as a dividing line or narrow racial political wall.

"Next, let’s work together with the spirit of goodwill, comradeship so that we can build this party with a cohesive and united force,” he added.

Later today, the oldest political party will celebrate its anniversary at the Umno headquarters at World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur to mark its 77 years since it was founded.