UMNO'S International Forum Provides Beneficial Knowledge - Participants

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 29 (Bernama) -- Delegates to the International Forum on 'The Politics of Economy and Social Transformation in the Era of Global Crisis' have all praise for Umno's effort in organising the event. They also intend to take home the knowledge which they had gathered from the event. Bangladesh Nasionalist Party's nationalist voluntary wing vice-president Mahbub Alam said the forum provided a platform to share the experiences of many Muslim countries in handling global crises, especially the need to cooperate and be helpful with one another to avoid future problems. "It is a very good cooperation and coordination. Umno is coordinating the forum for all Muslim countries...so, it's best for our world...because we have to believe in one world, one humanity and what you should fight for (in handling global crises)," he told Bernama after the forum at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) here Sunday. The forum, which saw more than 1,000 participants from 29 political parties in 24 countries, provided opportunities for them to learn from each other's valuable experiences in managing challenges in their respective countries. It was held in conjunction with the Umno General Assembly 2011. A delegate from Afghanistan, Faramarz Tamanna, said the forum was beneficial in teaching his country how Malaysia had successfully managed its different cultures, languages and religions of the nation but still continued to be a leading developing country in the world. Singapore High Commissioner to Malaysia Ong Keng Yong said, through the forum, delegates would know Umno's performance in the time being and how it handled internal issues accordingly. He also noted that the forum allowed participants from Japan, Iraq and Cambodia to share their experiences, especially on the transformation in their lives when it involved natural disasters, such as tsunami. Meanwhile, Head of Youth Section Madagascar Democratic and Liberal Party M. Randrianarivony said the forum had offered valuable knowledge on the ruling party. "Madagascar is still in crisis and we are looking for the best way to solve our problem by sharing some thoughts from all the participants on how they manage their countries," he said. Secretary Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment in the Women League of Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front (Zanu PF) Nyasha Chikwinya said the forum was important for participants to interact with many political parties. "We can share and learn how they operate, their challenges and how they hope to map the future programmes of their own party...we are here to listen to how Malaysia has grown as a country to become one of the fastest growing economies, their challenges, their programmes and the future of Malaysia, in view of the global crisis," she said. Vietnam Communist Party vice-chairman Mai The Duong, said participants were able to gather experiences from various political parties from several countries for adoption in their own social and economic development. Uganda's National Resistance Movement representative Faizal Housnie said the forum would help developing countries, especially African nations, to build their economies and politics systematically. "I think this forum is good, especially in helping our country (Uganda) and African nations to build our economic and politic environment, and Malaysia is a good example for Uganda to develop in all sectors," he said. Deputy National Coordinator of Democratic and Liberal Party M. Rakoto David said it was vital that transformation, as highlighted in the forum, be taught to the younger generation or new leadership to develop their country. The United Malays National Organisation,(abbreviated as UMNO) is Malaysia's largest political party; a founding member of the National Front coalition, which has played a dominant role in Malaysian politics since independence. The UMNO emphasizes as its foundation the struggle to uphold the aspirations of Malay nationalism and the dignity of race, religion and country. -- BERNAMA