Khairy Jamaluddin, who today made a surprise announcement that he was gunning for the party presidency in the Umno election, said he hopes for a complete restructuring of the party that would see it free from the control of warlords as well as racism and sexism.

"Together with my party comrades, I vow to give my all in restoring the original soul of Umno with a new body.

"The soul I am referring to is a Malay party that is inclusive and includes all Malaysians. A party that opens itself to all levels of society and not only to those at the top, nobility, corporate leaders, and elites.

"A party for the common folk that takes care of their interest. A party that is not racist, sexist, timid and no longer deaf to the wishes of the people.

"A party that is magnanimous to other races and perhaps one day, BN can be rebuilt as a big house for all," he said in a statement on Facebook.

In terms of Umno's "new body", Khairy said it entails a complete restructuring of the party.

"Umno must return to its spirit of openness in all aspects. Open to contests, open to criticism, leaders who criticise will not be sacked, open to accepting any new members without restrictions, open to delegates determining who should lead Umno and free from the clutches of warlords," he said. 

Khairy said Umno also must instil a culture of knowledge.

"Let the Umno general assembly be a place to exchange ideas in the interest of the people and not a festival for rhetorics and amusement for party members.

"Allow people from outside the system to rise up to senior positions, be they academics, professionals or activists who may have all this while been blocked or sidelined.

"We throw Umno's doors wide open to anyone who wants to rebuild our party," he said.

Khairy said he was confident Umno's soul can be restored with a new body, and the party can once again soar.