ACTING Umno president Mohamad Hasan’s biggest problem now is to unite the various factions in the party after its loss of federal power, according to the Malay party’s grassroots leaders. 

Unity is Umno’s biggest problem and if the party wants to be a formidable opposition, this is the first thing he must focus on, said Johor Umno treasurer Md Jais Sarday. 

“The first thing Tok Mat must do is to unite the divided faction and bring Umno back on track.

“I don’t believe Umno needs to merge with another party. It is better to strengthen the party,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

He blamed the lack of a clear objective for Umno’s split into several groups with different objective.

Mohamad has to define clearly the party’s objective if it wanted to move forward and be a strong opposition, he said.

There are those who want Umno to be a strong opposition and others who want to work with PAS on the Malay agenda platform and protect the sanctity of Islam.

There are also those who want to work with the ruling parties to strengthen the voice of the Malays in the government, such as joining Bersatu or support PKR president Anwar Ibrahim, who will be the next prime minister.

Umno has lost 17 MPs, leaving it with only 37 out of the 54 parliamentary seats it won under Barisan Nasional on May 9.

After comfortably running the country for more than 60 years, Umno has abandoned its original doctrine to protect race, religion and country, without sidelining the other races, said Jais. 

Another grassroots leader, who did not want to be identified, said Umno leaders’ statements on its struggle are nothing more than political talk as they have yet to come up with any action plan.

“Umno leaders can instil fear among the Malays. They can say the community will be backward, sidelined and cast away if Umno doesn’t rule the country and PH remains in power. 

“The present government may be new but after a year, they may be able get their act together and get Malay support. So where will Umno go when that happens?”

Jais said the matter is different with PAS, DAP and PKR with their own doctrines and appeal, especially the younger generation.

Rebranding and restructuring BN

The race-based politics at the core of Malaysian politics since Merdeka is still seen as relevant, although Malaysia has stepped into the New Malaysia era, especially in the peninsula.

Jais said Umno leaders and its BN components need to find a new formula to keep the coalition intact.

“BN has to be more open. We have to sit down together and see what to offer for the Malays, the ones Umno needs to defend, to the Chinese and Indians and the things the coalition needs to resolve in a certain time frame.”

Umno and PAS won the support of the Malays at the 14th general election, while DAP continues to capture urban seats where a majority of voters are Chinese.

“This is the time for Umno, MCA and MIC to sit down again and talk. MCA won’t be able to contest on its own if it leaves BN.” – December 22, 2018.