UMNO will find a “new normal” as an opposition party that includes reviewing the way it champions Malay rights, acting party president Mohamad Hasan said today.

In the clearest statement on the party’s direction since it lost power in the 14th general election, Mohamad also confirmed that Umno would stay an opposition party, debunking earlier speculation that it had plans to cooperate with PAS or with ruling parties in Pakatan Harapan in a bid to return to federal power.

“The championing of the Malay agenda can no longer be done by sidelining other races in anyway. It is time for Umno to review the Malay agenda. It must be redrafted and given a new outlook.

“Umno needs to find ‘a new normal’… it needs a new way of thinking that is radical and not based on rhetoric and empty slogans.

“We must adjust our attitudes and mindset to our new role. The old politics that have weakened Umno from within must be stopped and members must listen to the people even if they say what we don’t want to hear.”

Umno would strive to rebuild itself as a principled and respected opposition party, said Mohamad, who is deputy president but took over the duties of the president after Ahmad Zahid Hamidi went on leave on December 18.

The party’s re-evaluation of the way it upheld the Malay agenda must involve a “Malay renaissance” that would lead to concrete steps and progress to help Malays become more competent and competitive, he said.

“With a review of the Malay agenda, Umno will be able to offer a new deal to the Malays and all Malaysians.”

Umno was founded as a nationalist party to seek Malaya’s independence from Britain. It has since adopted a “Malay supremacy” ethos in its policies and outlook on the basis of constitutional provisions that guarantee Malays a special position in terms of quotas and privileges to raise their economic performance to be on a par with other races in the country.

Abuses and corruption involving these privileges over the years, however, have led to many calls for a review as well as an end to race-based policies.

Mohamad said Umno has to undertake this transformation as it is at the most critical stage of its history and facing many uncertainties.

Urging party members to be patient, Mohamad said rebuilding Umno would take time as there is no easy or immediate solution.

“Do not expect any instant success.” – December 31, 2018.