PUTRAJAYA, Nov 28 (Bernama) — Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak has reminded members not to underestimate the rival party led by a former Umno leader.

The prime minister said although the establishment of the new party did not create a ground swell of support, Umno has to strive to retain the power in hand.

"The support is unlike the phenomenon when Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim quit Umno to establish PKR. The effects are not the same. In divisions or parliamentary constituencies, there will be dissatisfied people who recruit others to join them and to fight us.

"We are not scared of them but we must never underrate them and strive to retain power,” he said in the Question and Answer programme in conjunction with Umno General Assembly 2016.

On the impact of the new party’s alliance with Pakatan Harapan (PH) on Barisan Nasional (BN), Najib said the rakyat should evaluate and choose between  BN led by Umno or PH led by DAP.

"The rakyat must know about the DAP’s policy, struggle and stand. They will abolish the bumiputera agenda and will never support anything to do with it, this is the reality.

"As for the position of Islam, our efforts to develop Islam, and to uphold Islamic teachings. What is DAP’s stand on this?

Asked about the Umno struggle to champion the Malays and Islam, he said the rakyat should view the policy on the whole as Umno practises the principle of moderation (wasatiyyah), progressive and transformation.

Najib said the rakyat should not judge Umno by the actions of several members who were extreme in their struggle to defend the party.

"What they do out of frustration is not Umno’s doing. They are just several individuals or a small group,” he added. — Bernama