UMNO, the backbone of Barisan Nasional (BN), has to demonstrate how a leader should behave, said Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak.

"Thus, we (UMNO) should show its critics that while there will always be power struggles in any political party in any part of the world, UMNO knows when to close ranks and when to demonstrate maturity," he said in his latest post on his blog http://sskeruak.blogspot.com/ today.

Salleh said Umno as the leader of BN, which was the government, needed to bring the party above petty squabbles and bickering.

"And prove that we are still capable of being the government, and are still able to place the future of the party and the country above all other interests.

"This year's UMNO General Assembly is going to set the pace for the Sarawak state election, which is just around the corner, and the general election that will follow not far behind," he added.