UMNO Information Chief Azalina Othman Said has asked if the time has come for the Malay rights party to contest under its own banner in the next general election.

The Pengerang MP asked if Umno would still contest under Barisan Nasional’s (BN) flag or with a new partnership.

Azalina was defending BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi after the coalition’s poor performance in the recent state elections and the brickbats he has received as a consequence.

“BN leadership could have opted to contest fewer seats on August 12, but did not, adding that no one raised any issue when the watikah (letter of appointment for candidates) was given to BN’s 108 candidates.”

“It’s strange. When the candidates were unveiled, it was met with cheers in the hall. In fact, when the watikah was handed out, the BN chairman was praised.”

“Some even felt contesting 108 seats was not enough? But today, there are some who are cynical about the seats we lost. Where were these voices when the watikah was handed to candidates?

“The BN chairman himself gave state leadership and division chiefs the freedom to choose qualified candidates. That’s why I say (BN’s poor performance) is a shared responsibility,” she said.

The Legal and Institutional Reform Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department admitted that her party fell short when it came to reaching out to voters online, and that the real battleground was now on digital platforms, not physical ceramah.

However, she said it was easy to point fingers at others adding that Umno needed to find a new way to mobilise its election campaign, not a new president.

Many quarters have urged Zahid to relinquish his post following BN’s defeat in the state polls.

Dr Mahathir Mohamad is among those who have called for the Bagan Datoh MP to step down. –  August 22, 2023.