UMNO ASSEMBLY Umno is the bravest and also the most popular political party in Malaysia based on evidence of the last general election and recent changes in the party constitution, party president Najib Abdul Razak said today.

In his opening speech addressing Umno delegates at the Putra World Trade Center this morning, the prime minister said that the opposition only won the popular vote in four states while BN had won the popular vote in nine states.

“This comparison (popular votes) is not fair, because the opposition stood under three different parties with different ideologies. Umno standing on its own won the most amount of popular vote. Umno is the most popular,” he said, in yet another public address by the premier peppered with pot shots at the opposition.

He also said that Umno’s recent “transformation” was proof that the party could answer it’s critics.

“The (party) constitution change that happened was to answer a challenge, to respond to taunts, thus making it the bravest step any political party in the world has ever taken,” he further said.

Najib even dolled a badminton analogy to argue that BN had legitimately won the last elections, contrary to the opposition's claims.

"If I want to give a simple analogy for people's understanding, say in a badminton match. Najib versus Anwar, the first set Najib won 21-15, the second set Najib lost 5-21, but the deciding set Najib won 21-16," he said.

"Definitely in this match, according to regulations, the referee declares that Najib won. But Anwar does not agree, he said his accumulated points is 52 compared to 47. 

"How can it be so, that is not right. We have a system, we play according to sets. Who wins the majority of sets, he is the champion!" he said.