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PETALING JAYA: The results of last month’s Sabah elections highlight the need for Umno to make internal changes or risk being eliminated by the PPBM, according to a youth leader.
Wan Agyl Wan Hassan, head of information for the Federal Territories Umno Youth, said party members were right to feel angry that Umno has gone from being the dominant force in Malay politics to a minor player in the administration led by Perikatan Nasional.
“Worse still, the Sabah election has diluted Barisan Nasional’s previous victories in the by-elections and allowed PPBM to take advantage of our efforts to highlight the failures of Pakatan Harapan after being part of the PH administration,” he told FMT.
In current politics, people would not remember past achievements and focus on the current performance of political parties. This was where Umno and BN were being “forgotten,” he said.
“One of the reasons for this is that the leadership has failed to negotiate a better deal for us in the grand coalition and has not listened to what the rank and file and party supporters are saying.
“It seems that we are satisfied to be the ‘little brother’ despite having more seats. The lack of foresight and strategic direction of the current leadership leads us to play on the PPBM playing field. “
Wan Agyl’s comments come in the wake of a warning from Umno senior member Nazri Aziz that the party heed the grassroots demands for an end to cooperation with PPBM.
Wan Agyl said that the importance of rank and file views cannot be underestimated, although Umno should not see rank and file as the only point of reference for his strength, as “politics has changed.”
Citing the example of the DAP, he said, the party had successfully positioned itself as a multiracial party even though it was a predominantly Chinese party. The game had public support because it won the game of perception, he said.
“A huge number of members could have functioned decades ago, but in today’s Malaysia, political parties are less and less important,” he said. People were more inclined to arguments based on facts and the problems that affect their daily lives.
Wan Agyl said that while many Umno members want the party to break away from the PPBM, the real question is whether Umno and BN have changed enough to gain the trust of the people and stand up for themselves.
“Umno and BN need a structural change, there has been a lot of talk about this after we lost GE14, but nothing concrete has happened.
“For me, we need a leadership transition, to allow for a much needed generational change in the party. The party must evolve into an organization of ideas, a platform for incubating party members, supporters and Malaysians. “
The Umno should become a party that allows each segment of the members and the general population to discuss and develop good policies to effectively address the problems that plague the country and its people.
Even as part of the government, the Umno leaders must speak out about real issues and pressure the government to create and implement better policies based on evidence rather than rhetoric.
“Without the political will to really change from the inside out, endless discussions and strategies to improve Umno will be useless.”
He said Umno leaders and members should remember that PPBM was created to replace him. “If we do not act now, this goal of eliminating Umno from Malaysian politics could be fulfilled and, what is worse, we do not realize it.”
