Party rejuvenation doesn’t translate to the youth in the party will snatch the power from the existing crop of older leaders who have been fighting for the party for the longest time,” said UMNO Youth Chief, Khairy Jamaluddin.

He expressed concern over the usage of the term, ‘party rejuvenation’ will only create a gap between the young and old leaders and inevitably leads to weakening the party.

Said Khairy, party rejuvenation doesn't constitute ages, but the capabilities of every layers of leadership in reviving youth imagination.

“As a leader, I’m concerned over the direction of this issue; I’m worried that it will create confusion – from a suggestion to strengthen the party it will only act as a ticking time bomb waiting to explode.

“There have been branch leaders viewed negatively by youth chief. Once embraced, today handshakes are tip of the fingers only. Rejuvenation doesn’t constitute age, it is wholesome. We aren’t asking older leaders to don pink sock, that isn’t authentic, that’s lunatic,” said Khairy.

“Rejuvenation should also be imposed on the older generation,” he said in his winding up speech delivered at the 68th UMNO General Assembly at Dewan Merdeka in Putra World Trade Centre, here today.

In his speech, Khairy also cautioned all UMNO Youth to equip themselves with quality criteria as they act as heir of party and at the same time, acts as a testimony of the superiority of its leadership.

“I’d say to UMNO Youth, don’t get carried away with the rejuvenation, we must be eligible. This isn’t a free lane, if not eligible means not eligible, if there’s ‘rezeki’, Alhamdulillah.

“That is what we understand, the manner the Malays respect the old,” he added.

Meanwhile, Umno Puteri Chief Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsuddin in her winding speech is adamant to uphold the party’s mandated main struggle.

Mas Ermieyati, Umno Puteri will mobilise its information machinery to avoid sedition towards the party on social media.

“Puteri Umno has been taught to use its expertise in operating information technology. Cyber realm is fast expanding and it has become a lifestyle to adopt IT.

The Semut Api Merah Jambu will build a vast network among young women in the country – aimed to disseminate genuine and real information.

Puteri Umno will act as the ‘eyes’ and ‘ears' to curb immoral activities on the cyber world,” she said.

Wanita Umno Chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said that her side will act as political machinery not just during election but the women’s wing has constantly been the mother of Umno members in mobilising the party machinery.

“We have arrived at the decision to be part of the party’s political machinery. The motion highlighted is not merely to champion the women, families and the society but this time around, we would like to emphasise that issues pertaining Constitutional Act, social contract, religion, Malay privileges as well as the Malay language will not be compromised.

The efforts by the women’s wing, said Shahrizat is parallel to the president’s challenge to mobilise women movement to improve the party’s achievement.