Understand why voters rejected you, Umno told

Umno must first understand why voters rejected them in the 2022 general election before talking about being a “government-in-waiting”, an analyst said.

Zaharuddin Sani Ahmad Sabri of Global Asia Consulting questioned what Umno has to offer the people in terms of the economy and how it has learned from past mistakes.

As it stands, he said, the party can only boast its experience in government.

Barisan Nasional had been in power for 60 years before being ousted by Pakatan Harapan in 2018.

“There is a faction of Umno leaders who talk as if the people were longing for their return, even though a segment of the public was waiting to see how they have changed for the better,” he told FMT.

Zaharuddin was commenting on Khairy Jamaluddin’s description of Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s speech at the general assembly as akin to that of a “prime minister-in-waiting” and a “government-in-waiting”.

Zaharuddin said the outcome of the 2022 general election should serve as a wake-up call for Umno.

“Saying they have learned from mistakes isn’t sufficient. What lessons did they exactly heed? Be it from the management of government-linked companies? The Felda episode? The Tabung Haji controversy?,” he said, adding that the public must see that Umno has learnt its lesson after losing power.

The party must show that it wants to put an end to political appointments to government-linked companies and that economic decisions are made based on merit and not ties.

It must also show that leaders will be held accountable for failures.

“If Umno really wants to lead, it must offer a more convincing economic plan and not just harp on financial aid and subsidies,” Zaharudin said.

He said the party cannot re-establish itself by proclaiming that “Malays needed Umno” as the results of the two previous general elections and the rise of PAS has proven otherwise

“The question isn’t ‘do Malays need Umno’, but ‘why should Malays and Malaysian vote for Umno again’.”

Universiti Malaya socio-political analyst Awang Azman Pawi said Umno would be a realistic choice for voters if it could convince the public it had learnt from past mistakes.

He said many issues affect the public’s confidence in Umno’s ability to administer the country, such as the controversies surrounding Felda and Tabung Haji.

“Admitting to their shortcomings won’t weaken Umno but will display their maturity as a party prepared to govern better,” he said.

He said Umno could also woo voters if it combined its years of experience in government with a new generation of leaders and policies relevant to the people.

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