KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: Several Umno leaders have welcomed Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's frank explanation on issues affecting Barisan Nasional and Umno's poor showing in the general election.

Umno Information chief Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib said the party president had given a comprehensive speech touching on all factors that caused losses in certain parliamentary and state constituencies.

"With the sincere explanation by the party president we can understand the main factors which caused the losses in certain areas and the steps that should be carried out by Umno," he said after the closed-door briefing session by Abdullah to at least 1,000 grassroots leaders at PWTC here yesterday.

Umno supreme council member Datuk Khaled Nordin said Abdullah had given a clear explanation about the position of the party and the problems it faced.

"This explanation will inject new spirit among members to work together to uphold and protect Umno," he said.

Datuk Mustapa Mohamed, who is also an Umno supreme council member, said the explanations were crucial in determining actions to be taken to revive the party.

Another supreme council member Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh said Abdullah gave facts about what had happened during the elections.

"Umno does not have to act like losers because we have not been given the mandate to rule in several state governments. We must learn from our mistakes and move forward," he said.

The Star, ANN