UMNO members should not be like "crabs in a bucket" that try to get free or go up by stepping on others, said party vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is assuming the duties of party deputy president.

Instead, he said, they should be like ants that always greet friends when they met.

"Our problem is like crabs in a bucket. These crabs, when they are in a bucket, they step on one another because all want to get out to save or promote themselves, but in the end all died, when there should be one that could get out and seek help to flip the bucket so that all the crabs can get out," he said when closing the Kelana Jaya UMNO divisional delegates conference here today.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also deputy prime minister, said such a problem existed in UMNO, including in Selangor.

As such, he said UMNO leaders in Selangor should unite to win back the state in the coming general election.

He said a new approach using technology and the social media was required to win the support of voters in the urban areas, including Selangor.

"This is because the urban people likes their heart and mind to be tapped through social media communications, not by knocking at their doors as that would encroach on their privacy," he added.

He also told UMNO members to be prepared to face the onslaught of attacks from the opposition and also from within the party which would happen when some members became disgruntled for not getting what they wanted, like to be chosen as election candidates.

At the event, Ahmad Zahid also announced an allocation of RM400,000 for repair and upgrading of the Dewan Budiman at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Bandar Sunway here.

-- BERNAMA