UMNO president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has urged the party to step out of its comfort zone and take extraordinary measures to reclaim its dominance in Malaysian politics.
Speaking at the first anniversary dinner of the UMNO Political School (SPU), Zahid stressed that the party can no longer be seen as clinging to nostalgia and must undergo a comprehensive rebranding. He added that this effort should extend to other parties within the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition.
“We must think not only about our direction 20 years from now, but also about the general election coming in approximately 22 months,” he said. “From now on, we need strong products, branding and marketing.”
Zahid warned that repeating voter trends from the 2018 and 2022 elections could put UMNO at risk of extinction.
“I fear that 20 years from now, when UMNO reaches its 100th anniversary, we may have to close shop,” he said.
Also present at the event were UMNO vice-president Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail and secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki.
The Deputy Prime Minister highlighted the need to strengthen the party by countering negative narratives that have driven voters away.
“Even if our product is good, if external perceptions of us remain negative, UMNO will not go anywhere,” he said. “This perception is our collective nightmare, and we must dismantle it properly.”
On the SPU, Zahid said its graduates represent UMNO’s future leaders and young thinkers who will analyse issues and provide input to the party’s leadership.
