The retreat, at a hotel in Shah Alam on Thursday and Friday, will break from the norm of the council’s usual deliberations at Menara Dato’ Onn.
For the “pow-wow???, members of Umno’s highest decision-making body will be divided into various groups to focus on specific topics and issues.
The supreme council members have been asked to be frank and candid in expressing themselves as the party prepares to execute a strategy to woo support for it.
Besides party affairs, members can also touch on national issues such as the performance of the economy, rising cost of living and ways to fight poverty.
Party president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak will hear the views and opinions and provide pointers themselves.
Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor confirmed that the retreat would take place.
“All supreme council members have been notified to attend,??? he told The Star.
Retreats have been organised for Umno state liaison chiefs and MPs in the past but this is the first time that the supreme council, comprising 52 members, will be involved.
The supreme council has met several times since the March 8 elections, when Umno won only 79 of the 109 parliamentary seats it previously held.
Umno also lost control of Selangor, Perak and Kedah, and failed to wrest Kelantan, besides losing support in Negri Sembilan, Pahang and Johor.
Several supreme council members spent the weekend holed up in their own retreats to prepare for the event.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim, an appointed member of the council, pledged to speak his mind on issues affecting the party.
“How can we say that the party is without problems? There are, so let’s face them.
‘I am happy that there is this retreat. I will give my views,??? he said.
He said there were new developments to talk about also, such as the re-entry of former PKR Youth chief Ezam Mohd Nor.
Dr Rais, however, said that there was “no need for a change of captain now,??? referring to calls for Abdullah to step down as president and Prime Minister.
Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Hamzah Zainuddin, another appointed member of the council, stressed that he would drive home the point that Umno “remained as relevant as ever.???
“I am saddened when I hear people say that Umno is no longer relevant. We remain the strongest party for the Malays,??? he stressed.
Another supreme council member Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, the former Perlis Mentri Besar, will tackle issues connected with the new media and press freedom.
“The party’s image is important and the media has a very important role to play,??? he said.