Umno's 60th Anniversary: Putera Umno becomes a player in the party
28 Apr 2006
Chow Kum Hor
New Straits Times

With Umno turning 60 on May 11, the party is increasingly reaching out to the young. CHOW KUM HOR looks at how Putera Umno has taken this on, in the first report of a series on the party in conjunction with its anniversary.

IT is easy to mistake Datuk Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim’s office in Jalan Kampung Attap, Kuala Lumpur for that of a minister’s.

The first scene to greet visitors at the Putera Umno secretariat, which Azeez chairs, is a long line of people waiting to see him.

Some come with briefcases of business proposals, others ask for surat sokongan (letters of recommendation) and a few want him to pass messages to Umno higher-ups.

Barely a year ago, Azeez, 39, was an obscure name in the Umno Youth executive council, a political unknown about to hit the 40-year age ceiling for a Youth member.

But the crowd outside his office these days tells a different story. The former used-car dealer and his 200,000-strong unit is now a force to be reckoned with in the party.

"It’s like a clinic here," says Azeez of the queue outside his office. "People come here for all sorts of things. We help however we can."

Azeez set up Putera Umno last year with a membership of just over 100,000. Unlike Puteri Umno, which is a wing by itself, Putera is a bureau under the Youth wing.

Male Umno members from the ages of 18 to 25 are automatic members of the unit formed to reach out to young adults.

"Putera is not into politicking. We are promoting Putera as an avenue people can turn to if they want a head start in their careers and where people can enjoy fun activities," says Azeez.

So far, about 800 members have signed up for Putera’s training programmes in the hotel and automotive industries as well as paramedic services, conducted jointly with private training centres.

Participants are paid a monthly stipend under the Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF) and must sign a contract to work for at least one year after completing their training.

This, Azeez says, can draw school-leavers, numbering about 200,000 yearly, away from a life of crime, particularly drugs.

Putera Umno has also lined up activities for the youth: Roller-blading, taekwondo, silat, rock climbing and MyTeam, the nationwide search for talented footballers.

It has even patented a new board game — dubbed Darmawisata — which tests players’ knowledge of Malaysian geography and their word power.

Putera will soon have its own reality show, called Kem Karismatik Putera, set to air over RTM1 starting June. In it, participants will be tested on their ingenuity in resolving people’s problems and will be judged by Putera leaders, local officials and elected representatives.

"The activities in Putera are catered towards young people like us," says Mohd Wan Khairul Rizzuan Abu Hassan, 21, who signed up with the Jitra branch in Kedah six months ago.

Mohd Wan Khairul, who just graduated from Putera’s automotive training programme, says many of his friends have joined the party because they were drawn by the activities.

Where does Putera Umno, which has doubled its membership in less than a year, head after this? Azeez is aiming for a membership of half a million before the next general election, due within the next three years.

And should Putera achieve that target, why not turn it into a wing just like the 232,000-strong Puteri, instead of just a section under the Youth wing?

"We don’t think it is proper for the head of the Putera section to be made a party vice-president. Putera functions very well under the Youth umbrella," says Azeez.

But in recognition of Putera’s role, Azeez says, the party’s general assembly is expected to amend the constitution soon to make Putera a permanent entity in the Youth section. At present, bureaus can be formed or dissolved at any time.

On top of this, Azeez also has another mission: To find a successor when his term in the Youth wing expires at the next party election.

He says he has not identified anyone yet.

"But for now, we want to concentrate on making Putera Umno the place where future top male party leaders are groomed. That, to me, is more important."