UMNO has announced plans to propose a full rebranding of Barisan Nasional (BN) to ensure the coalition stays relevant ahead of the 16th General Election (GE16).
UMNO president and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the 52-year-old coalition needs a “new lease of life” to navigate an increasingly complex political landscape.
“In undertaking rebranding within the framework of political cooperation, we must recognise that circumstances have changed and the demands of the younger generation are more diverse,” he said during his policy speech at the UMNO General Assembly.
Zahid added that this requires a reassessment of political cooperation, including a review of BN’s structure. Long-standing allies, he said, must continue to be embraced to strengthen unity and support.
Highlighting the complexities of modern politics, he cited UMNO’s experience in Sabah, where the party opposed Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) even as some of its partners shared the stage with the coalition.
“In the end, when it came time to form a government, all parties sat at the same table in the name of political stability. Is this not the strangeness of politics today?” he said.
Zahid also noted that political cooperation could differ between the federal and state levels in the future. “Cooperation at the federal level may not be reflected at the state level, as politics today is full of such peculiarities,” he said.
As parties prepare for GE16, he urged readiness for political anomalies that require sacrifice, understanding, and unity at all levels.
