THE Umno General Assembly should be a platform for the top leadership to provide explanations and answers to the grassroots on issues that are plaguing the party, particularly the decision to join the unity government, political observers said.

They said Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi needs to explain to the members his plans to reorganise the party after it was rejected by the Malays in the November general election.

Ilham Centre executive director Hisomuddin Bakar said Zahid, who is Bagan Datuk MP, must give his reasons for Umno joining the unity government led by Anwar Ibrahim.

“When they (Umno) contested alone (in the general election) and carried the message ‘No Anwar, No DAP and No Bersatu’, they still lost badly,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

“But in the current situation, they are with Anwar and DAP. For me, they need to convince the grassroots of their position (in unity government).”

He said in the polls, Umno performed poorly, winning only 26 seats. Other Barisan Nasional component parties secured four.

“When (BN) lost badly, winning only 30 parliamentary seats, they joined the unity government with Anwar and DAP,” he said.

“So how can Umno get rid of the dogma embedded in the minds of members, to accept Anwar and DAP?

“That needs to be explained to the members.”

Hisomuddin said Zahid, who is also deputy prime minister, should be wise to prepare to face party elections.

“The message at the general assembly should be how the Umno elections can restructure a new leadership to face the party’s internal conflict. This crisis needs to be managed,” he said.

“They are now in a unity government, but the party is in disarray. This is a new challenge that needs to be addressed by the president and members of the supreme council.”

The top two posts in Umno also came into focus after calls from several quarters in the party that they should not be contested to preserve the party’s stability.

This move was suggested when there was pressure from members who wanted Zahid to step down after the party’s poor performance in the general election.

Hisomuddin believes that those opposing Zahid will use the general assembly to gather their support ahead of the next general election.

“There will be groups that will oppose the proposal not to contest the top posts and those who will challenge the decision of the current leadership,” he said.

“Both groups could air their respective grouses at the assembly.”

Former Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin has hinted that he will challenge Zahid if he is assured that the transition of power in the Umno leadership will not destabilise the unity government.

There is also concern that a change in Umno leadership will affect the federal government because the new leaders may pull out the 30 BN lawmakers to support other parties.

This is because there are groups within Umno, particularly the supporters of vice-president Ismail Sabri Yaakob when he was prime minister, that are more friendly towards Perikatan Nasional (PN).

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia analyst Mazlan Ali said the Umno general assembly will witness Zahid’s strategy of gaining grassroots support after the crisis, which resulted in the dismissal of several Umno leaders before the general election.

“He (Zahid) will strengthen his position (as president) to face any challenge for the top post,” he said.

“It is not impossible that the assembly will decide that there will be no contest for the top two posts.

“I don’t expect those opposing Zahid to stand out in the assembly.”

Mazlan said Zahid will make the assembly the centre stage for him to gain grassroots’ confidence on the decision to form the unity government.

“Zahid will try to win their confidence and support because the cooperation in the unity government is to Umno’s advantage in terms of its strategy,” he said.

For Umno member Bastien Onn, the general assembly should be a platform to explain to the grassroots the cooperation with PKR and DAP, which had been Umno’s main rivals for a long time.

“There needs to be an explanation by the leadership about cooperation with them (PKR and DAP) and regarding the party constitution,” he said. – January 12, 2023.