Two political analysts agree that Umno can no longer rely on its leading role in securing independence for the country as the basis for expecting continued support from Malay voters.
Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani said the Barisan Nasional (BN) lynchpin has progressively lost support since the 13th general election (GE13) in 2013 as the Malays pivoted away from party loyalty to select candidates capable of addressing local issues effectively.
On the surface, religion may seem important for Malay voters, but what truly matters to them are economic opportunities, the cost of living, education, and a chance for a better life,
Asrul was referencing former Umno treasurer Salleh Said Keruak’s rhetorical call for the party to choose between two existing narratives if it wants to regain the support of Malay voters at the next general election.
One narrative posits that the Malays were indebted to Umno for its role in securing independence from the British in 1957, as well as for the special assistance the community had received over the years.
The second narrative was that Umno was indebted to the Malays for giving it a chance to administer the country for over 60 years.
Meanwhile, Azmi Hassan, from the National Council of Professors, said Umno can no longer expect the indebtedness of the Malay community to automatically translate into votes for the party.
He said Umno has historically relied on its role in securing independence and Malaysia’s development at national and regional level to attract Malay voters. However, he said, this strategy is no longer effective.
Azmi drew a parallel with the African National Congress (ANC), a South African political party once revered for its decades-long anti-apartheid struggle dating back to its formation in 1912.
In 1994, ANC leader Nelson Mandela became the nation’s first democratically elected president. The party went on to dominate South African politics until it lost its parliamentary majority for the first time in May this year.
“Umno has adopted a similar narrative, urging voters to see what it has done for Malaysia and how it fought for the country’s independence. After 60 years in office, it doesn’t work anymore,” Azmi said.
He said Umno should consider adopting the
“humbler” second narrative which will allow the party to stand out against rivals Bersatu and PAS.
“Umno leaders cannot accuse the Malays of having forgotten their services to the country decades ago,” he said.
He said the party should focus on what it can offer voters in future elections and not dwell on past glories.
“When Salleh said Umno should adopt the ‘right attitude’, he meant the party should talk about what it can do for the country and the people, especially the Malay community,” Azmi said.
Rebuild from the ground up
Asrul said that to restore voter confidence, Umno must undergo a rebuild from the ground up. He said the party must listen to concerns raised by the grassroots and conduct door-to-door campaigns to reconnect with disillusioned party members.
“Most importantly, Umno needs to get rid of the stigma of corruption, which includes dispelling the public’s perception that its leaders are corrupt and eradicating any traces of corruption within the party,” he said.
The 15th general election (GE15) in 2022 marked Umno’s nadir, securing only 27 seats and 31% of the popular vote.
Its dismal performance continued at the six state elections last August, where it clinched a mere 19 seats out of 108 contested.
The Coverage Malaysia
