PETALING JAYA: Barisan Nasional (BN) is to open a political school in Janda Baik, near Bentong, Pahang, to train youngsters identified as having potential to become future party leaders and candidates for the 16th general election.
BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the school, to be set up under the Umno Cadre and Training Council, would provide training in various leadership theories and practices, Bernama reported.
Zahid said this was decided by the party’s Supreme Council two months ago and the idea was in the “preparation stage” now.
He said Pahang menteri besar Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail would provide further details later.
“I hope this new approach will be implemented nationwide, with Wan Rosdy spearheading the initiative, along with the political school’s leaders.
“It will provide training at Institut Latihan Memperkasa Ummah (ILMU) in Janda Baik,” he said after officiating the Pahang BN convention in Temerloh today.
Zahid, who is also deputy prime minister, said candidates would be identified by the respective state BN chairmen.
Their performances would be evaluated during their attendance at the political school.
“We will evaluate who has potential to win a particular seat, voters’ acceptance and their likeability,” he said.
Earlier, in his speech, Zahid said efforts to find leaders needed to begin early.
“Don’t look for good orators; instead, find those who can truly serve the people as BN and Umno are not seasonal parties that only appear during elections,” he said.
Zahid also reminded BN component parties that 52% of voters were young and efforts needed to be made to woo them over.
