NOVEMBER 2 — It may have shocked many when Barisan Nasional (BN) announced our GE15 candidates for Peninsular Malaysia.

This is because many of the candidates are new faces, and a few big names were dropped such as:

Tan Sri Annuar Musa (Ketereh)

Tan Sri Noh Omar (Tanjung Karang)

Tan Sri Shahidan Kassim (Arau)

Datuk Mastura Mohd Yazid (Kuala Kangsar)

Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin (Padang Besar)

However, the strategy of putting fresh, younger candidates has proven to be effective, and this can be seen by the success of BN in both the Melaka and Johor state elections.

This move is also necessary because BN needs to enter, and be seen entering, a state of reform.

We need newer, fresher and younger leaders because the rakyat are getting tired of the same old faces.

Younger leaders would understand more on the current trends, needs, and lifestyles of the people, and recognize that the economy has moved into a new digital revolution.

If BN were to win in the upcoming GE15, top leaders must not take it as a signal that it is okay to be remain in the comfort zone. The reason being is that a win would mean the rakyat believed in the new leaders and voted for them. If the old "Warlords” system remains, the rakyat will again punish BN as they did in GE14. Let’s not make the same mistake twice.

We as grassroots can’t be obsessed with our leaders, our bosses. We must look at the bigger picture.

The true objective of a political party, what it is that we truly fight for, is ultimately to serve the people and our country. If our leaders, our bosses, are not being contested as candidates, we must move on and move forward to fight for our political party’s true cause. Be a party man. There should not be any personal interest involved.

Leaders come and go but the party stays.

We must embrace change. This is what the people want as they still believe in the party’s true cause, hence why BN reform is crucial. It’s time for the new generation to take over as it is more relevant in the eyes of the rakyat. It is time for BN to rejuvenate.

Or all this could merely be a young grassroot member’s wishful thinking.

* By Asyraf Adlan, Chief Umno Youth Bukit Jelutong, Shah Alam and former Special Officer to Tan Sri Shahrir Samad.

** This is the personal opinion of the writer or organisation and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.