Umno vice-president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today drew parallels between the opposition's propaganda efforts with the leaders of Nazi Germany.
 
In his speech to the joint opening of the annual assemblies of Umno's Wanita, Youth and Puteri wings tonight, Zahid recounted how Adolf Hitler and his propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels had a grip on German citizens through carefully crafted propaganda strategies.
 
"It was based on lies... Hitler once wrote: 'If you are going to tell a lie, tell a big one and if you tell it often enough, people will begin to believe it'.
 
"Through creative radio and film propaganda, they succeeded in controlling the minds of more than 80 million people.
 
"The opposition's plot in this country is almost the same," Zahid said.
 
He said the opposition had been claiming that the country would go bankrupt under the current administration, among other fallacies.
 
This, said Zahid, was a worrying trend as it has resulted in polarisation of thought and led to the rise of politics of hate.


Role of cybertroopers

As for Umno's own communication efforts, Zahid told his audience that 87 percent of information was now being sourced through the new media.

In view of this, he said, members of all three Umno wings must use cyberspace wisely in order to address slander and attacks by the party's enemies.

"We must be creative and work hard in building rapport with the people, especially our target groups within Gen-Y and Gen-Z.

"Taking selfies, which is what we often do, is not enough," he said.

Zahid called on Umno's cybertroopers to be united and form a proper strategy to combat the enemies, rather than fight among themselves.

"I know that some of them only promote certain leaders. This group has an agenda that only they are familiar with.

"What we should rightfully do is to meet each other halfway and mend our differences," he said.

More candidates from wings

On the performance of the three wings, Zahid said that he has received reports that showed all three wings to have done well in serving the public.

In view of this, Zahid said, he would certainly be recommending that more members from all three wings be made candidates in the next election.

"I will whisper to our president on the need to increase the number of candidates (to be filled by) leaders of these three wings.

"However, there is a condition. You must work hard to strengthen the party further through machinery within your respective wings.

"I am confident that the president is an understanding and loving leader who will be kind to all of you," he added.