KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional must cure itself of four "diseases" or risks disappearing from the country's political landscape, says a senior coalition leader.
Federal Territories BN chairman Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said the four "diseases" were delusion, amnesia, inertia, and arrogance.
In his speech at the Federal Territories BN convention, Johari said the coalition's leaders and members of its component parties must stop assuming that BN's past contributions were reason enough for the people to continue supporting them.
"We believe that the people will support us because BN has contributed to the development of the country… this is being delusional.
"I always remind our friends. It's not going to be easy to rise like how we were before."
Johari, who is also an Umno vice-president said BN cannot be amnesiac and forget its roots and original struggles.
"We have forgotten the purpose of our original struggle, which was to develop the country and its people.
"Why our grandparents, or great grandparents, and Tun Abdul Razak Hussein formed BN.
"We must focus on our struggles instead of thinking about what we can get in return. This is something that we need to correct."
On inertia or the tendency to remain unchanged, Johari said this was the reason why BN lost power in the first place.
He said taking the "business as usual" route cost BN in the 14th General Election.
"Our fourth disease is arrogance. We cannot accept differences of opinion and cannot be corrected.
"We are unwilling to admit our mistakes and are unwilling to compromise."
The Titiwangsa member of parliament said BN cannot afford to give up and must work towards improving itself.
"If we unite and work together, regardless of race, I am confident that BN will return to power," he added.