In the early part of this season of annual UMNO Divisional meetings, voices have emerged to demand that UMNO break-out from the Unity Government. It came from groups within UMNO exploiting PH's colossal lost at the Sungai Bakap by-election.
Among the voices are the faction aligned to the 11 BN MPs that signed the SDs after the 15th General Election to support Tan Sri Muhyiddin form a marginal majority government akin to the Perikatan Nasional government of 2020-22.
There is also voices expressing the reluctance of grassroot members to accept the current political reality of a Unity Government.
This segment of UMNO members either could not cope with the sentiment of being in a coalition with DAP and ridiculed as UMDAP or unable to accept Anwar Ibrahim, UMNO's former political enemy as Prime Minister. It is partly attributed to peer pressure from former UMNO members, who migrated to PN.
And it is also partly in-denial of the party's present predicament. They initially digested the party's explanation that the Unity Government was to respect the request of the Yang Di Pertuan Agong, but could not come to term with the party's decline in fortune.
Their suggested solution is for UMNO to go alone albeit with BN and slug it out in the next GE. Winning a general election need more than just enthusiasm. It needs finance, organisation, and campaign message.
Among them have taken to Dato Seri Mohamed Hasan to be their voice. However, current Liaison Chief of UMNO Negeri Sembilan and one of the 11 BN MP who sign the SD for Muhyiddin, Dato Jalaluddin Alias bluntly said last week that UMNO will lose should it go solo.
There will be those who see his contrarian view as political positioning within the state, but Jalaluddin reiterated the same point said by Mat Hasan. Be it to go solo or cooperation with other group, the Supreme Council will decide and it has yet to decide for GE16.
The next general election is still three years away and there is still much work to be done. Perhaps to send a clearer message to the UMNO masses that such any decision should not be made in haste, Vice President, Dato Khaled Norden gave a similar view.
He said over the weekend that UMNO will cease to exist had it joined up with PPBM and PN. And he advised the members to do a reality check and not to make unnecessary demands.
The Star reported:
Don't make demands as if we're still dominant, Umno members told
By YEE XIANG YUN
NATION
Saturday, 27 Jul 2024 11:42 AM MYT
JOHOR BARU: Umno members should not be making demands as if the party is still strong and dominant in the government, says Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.
The Umno vice-president said that the party was just a small part of the unity government.
“We cannot act as if we are still the dominant party (in the government) and make a thousand and one demands.
“When those demands are not met, they are followed by threats. Do not forget, we are only a small part that forms the government,” he said in his opening speech at the Pasir Gudang Umno division meeting here on Saturday (July 27).
Mohamed Khaled said that at times, Umno members have put the party and its leaders in a tough spot with their demands.
He highlighted an example of when the Pakatan Harapan candidate lost in the July 6 Sungai Bakap by-election, there were voices within Umno calling for the party to cut ties with its unity government partners.
He added that the party was not as strong as before and does not have as much choice.
“When (party members) attack Umno and its leaders, this puts us in a tough position and might also cause conflict with the other parties we are working with in the government.
“This could further complicate the situation,” said Mohamed Khaled, who is also Defence Minister and Kota Tinggi MP.
He also urged the party members from all levels to focus on service-based politics and offer modern solutions and ideas to win over voters.
His suggestion to maintain a service-based politics is UMNO's past practise and any effort in reviving the party should be in sync with the political trend and methodology of the times.
On that note, Minister for Trade and Industry, Tengku Zafrul raised a relevant and pertinent point over the weekend. FMT reported:
Umno doesn’t need leaders bankrupt of ideas, says Tengku Zafrul
FMT Reporters - 27 Jul 2024, 11:49 PM
The Supreme Council member ticks off leaders who politick all the time, and those who deal in trivia, make personal attacks and raise personal agendas.
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Umno Supreme Council member Tengku Zafrul Aziz said Umno members must speak up if such leaders were unwilling to change their ways. |
PETALING JAYA: Umno does not need leaders who are bankrupt of ideas, Supreme Council member Tengku Zafrul Aziz said today, urging members to choose those with fresh ideas.
Tengku Zafrul said that Umno members don’t need leaders who were busy politicking all the time. The rakyat want leaders who are concerned about their issues and have a vision for their children, he said.
However, there are still leaders who discuss trivial matters, attack each other and raise personal agendas. These are people who are lacking ideas, he said in a Facebook posting about his speech at the Tanjung Umno division’s annual meeting.
“We need to prove to the people that Umno has fresh ideas to safeguard the welfare of the people, boost the economy, and ensure a better future for their children.
If the leaders are unwilling to change, Umno members must speak up for the sake of the party, he reminded the delegates. Only then would the people regain their trust in Umno.
Concurrent with the views of Khaled and Tengku Zafrul, UMNO should realise their era has passed and it is time to consolidate to prepare for its revival. The party should not be indulging in any political manovering and power game to regain their dominance.
The next 10 years is about re-positioning the party and transforming the grand ole party of Malay nationalism to one that is relevant with the times. The party's political philosophy need to be abreast with the ever changing environment and diverse make-up of the country.
UMNO could not replicate LDP as the grand ole party of Japan which is continuously in power since 1955 except for 1993-94 and 2009-2012. It is a mix fortune for Congress Party of India whichis similar to UMNO for the constant political flux and internal strife.
More likely, UMNO could be duplicating Golkar of Indonesia. Since losing power in 1999, it remain a member of coalition and yet to regain to its former glory. UMNO could replicate to maintain its presence in a coalition government while focusing to rebuild the party.
The Malaysian grand ole party need to urgently identify a renewed sense of purpose that is in sync with the time and demography. Ideally, UMNO need to carry a youthful, vibrant and dynamic image associated with a progressive agenda.
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