Norsarfinaz Mohd Azman, in an interview with FMT, said it was not a bad strategy to remind youths of the contributions the party had made to the country since pre-independence days.

However, she said, youths need more than nostalgia to entice them to vote for the party.

“They need Umno to be honest and transparent in its actions,” said Norsarfinaz, who is also Jerantut Puteri division chief.

She added that the best way forward for the ruling party, whose support has apparently dwindled over the past few years, is to go back to basics.

“We have to see how Umno’s past leaders conducted themselves and emulate them.

“Honesty, integrity, fairness and being just — those were the qualities possessed by these past leaders.

“And by conducting ourselves the same way, Umno will automatically get back to its glory days where people queued to join the party and others clamoured to work with us.”

The BN government led by Umno has been denied two-thirds majority in Parliament in the last two general elections.

Umno itself has become fractured after ex-premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad and former deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin formed Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM), which is eating away at Umno’s support base.

However, party president Najib Razak maintains a firm grip on power and Umno had in the middle of this year won two by-elections with big majorities over the opposition.

Najib has indicated that the next general election will be held soon.

However, Norsarfinaz said she missed the presence of former leaders, like Mahathir and Muhyiddin, at the general assembly.

“They were with us for a really long time, so I miss them. But politics of hate must be avoided,” said Norsarfinaz.

When asked if she planned to climb the political ladder and one day be a leader that can change the party from within, she said “no”.

She said her position gave her the ability to be the voice of those who were unable to speak for themselves.