Johor Umno Liaison Committee chairman Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the Malays must leave behind such attitudes to ensure they continue to progress.
Johor Umno must teach Malays to be independent and the attitude of over dependence on rights and aid must be eradicated.
“The anti-competition and anti-progress attitude must end,” he said in his speech at the opening of the 2016 Johor Umno Convention here tonight.
Khaled, who is also menteri besar, noted that what needed to be changed was Malay thinking, attitude and culture, and not the party which had become the vessel for the Malay struggle.
He said the demanding and dependent attitude of the Malays and their thinking that in whatever situation (they were in), Umno would be there and the party would continue to be obliged to help because it is supported by Malays, should be eradicated.
“Backward thinking like this is a major problem which will lead the Malays to be left behind,” he added.
Regardless, Khaled said Umno, as part of the elected Barisan Nasional government, would continue to defend and introduce various affirmative actions to give the Malays a fair and needed start.
Also present to open the two-day convention was Umno vice-president and Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein.