THE ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition and Umno party should not be over-confident in the elections to come which could prove to be one of the most unpredictable polls ever, warned veteran Umno leader and former cabinet minister Syed Hamid Albar.

Syed Hamid said while Umno need not worry about losing the loyalty of Malay voters in Johor, the party must not get cocky and must instead be more vigilant.

“All the usual formulas to calculate the odds no longer apply for the next general election. There is no more straight line, anything can happen. Umno and BN should not rest on their laurels,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Syed Hamid was responding to Pakatan Harapan deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin’s recent statement that he was confident of winning Johoreans over because they are “mature” and ready for a change of state government.

“He is in the opposition, of course he can say that. If he doesn’t say that, he is wasting his time (in the opposition). I am not surprised.

“They (opposition) will promise you the moon and the stars (before the general election) because that is how they motivate you into voting,” said Syed Hamid.

He said Umno was inseparable from the Malays in Johor, to the point “Umno is the Malays and the Malays are Umno.”

He said Muhyiddin, even if he was from Johor,  was unable to cause the Malays in the state to forsake Umno as the Malay political legacy there was different.

“If anything were to happen to Johor, it will not be because of Muhyiddin but other things.”

However, he said the 14th general election, which must be called within the next dozen months, would be “tough” and full of the “unexpected”.

“There will be many surprises. Do not be too confident,” he warned Umno and BN leaders.

Syed Hamid said former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is now leader of PH, was working hard to rally the Malay voters.

“The opposition has nothing to lose in the elections. So, BN must do it right. Don’t play Dr Mahathir’s game. Dr Mahathir has nothing to lose, and everything to win. If BN loses, BN will lose more.

Syed Hamid headed the Kota Tinggi Umno branch in Johor from 1993 to 2013.

The 73-year-old has served under three prime ministers – Dr Mahathir, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Najib Razak – in the posts of   legal minister, defence minister, foreign affairs minister, and home minister.

He was the Kota Tinggi MP from 1990 until the 2013 general election, when he decided not to contest. Syed Hamid was appointed the Land Public Transport Commission chairman in 2010 and retired in June.

Syed Hamid said he believed Umno would overcome its challenges and survive the current political crisis, because it was “a miracle party”.

Asked whether Umno could stand the test of time and not die out like the old parties in other countries, Syed Hamid confidently said: “Yes, if the party leaders are sensitive to the needs and feelings of the public.”

He said the key to winning the 14th general election is that the government should be more involved in handling issues that are controversial such as the unemployment rate and rising cost of living.

“Don’t sweep these things under the rug. Don’t say that Malaysians are wrong, of course they will be mad. Malaysian know best as they live here. Life now is hard,” he said.

Syed Hamid also admitted that Umno Malay supporters are disappointed with Najib, but this cannot be taken to mean that their unhappiness will be a vote against Umno as the party is still connected to the Malays. – August 27, 2017.