UMNO and Barisan Nasional (BN) have no room to take it easy any longer following its heavy losses in the recent general election, Sembrong MP Hishammuddin Hussein said.

The former Umno vice-president said the party needs to buck up and remain united to regain the people’s confidence.

“The results should be a wake-up call for BN and Umno members. We need to work on reclaiming public support for the longevity of the party.

“We cannot allow any more missteps. The road in the future will not be easy,” he said in a video released on his social media platforms.

He also advised party grassroots to close ranks for the sake of the party.

As for his political future, Hishammuddin said he remains an Umno loyalist despite speculation claiming otherwise.

In the general election, BN won only 30 seats despite going to the polls confident that it could form the new government. Of the 30 seats, 27 were won by Umno.

However, BN formed an alliance with Pakatan Harapan (PH) to be in the ruling government, which also saw Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi becoming deputy prime minister.

Hishammuddin, who had been a senior minister in both the Muhyiddin Yassin and Ismail Sabri Yaakob administrations, was not appointed to Anwar Ibrahim’s cabinet.

Immediately after the general election, Hishammuddin had rejected working with PH, saying that he would rather be sacked by Umno. He later changed his stand.

Umno’s general assembly will be held from January 11 to 14. – December 23, 2022.