Umno should stop relying on other parties, says Tok Mat

— FAIHAN GHANI/The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno must stop depending on other parties to form the government, which is why it needs to win the next general election with a solid majority, says Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.

The Umno deputy president said Umno needed to be confident of its own abilities and strengths to avoid a “confidence deficit syndrome”.

“We should stop depending on PAS, Bersatu or Pakatan Harapan as our lifeline. This culture of looking for lifelines needs to be discarded.

“We also must stop providing lifelines for others – especially to those who might later stab us in the back,” said Mohamad in his speech at the opening of the Umno Youth, Wanita and Puteri wings’ meetings here on Wednesday (March 16).

He said the return of Malay support for Umno was not because of some “miracle tonic” from other parties.

“This is all due to our own efforts. We were injured, but we could still walk and run.

“Those who have likened Umno to a lame duck can say whatever they like.

“But the fact is Umno is the soul of the people and the government,” said Mohamad.

Mohamad’s “lame duck” reference came from a recent statement from PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.

Abdul Hadi had likened Umno to a “lame duck” after the GE14 defeat and needed PAS’ help to survive in its aftermath.

After GE14, Umno and PAS forged the Muafakat Nasional alliance, before joining forces with Bersatu to form the Perikatan Nasional government in 2020.

However, the relationship between the two parties soured and Umno distanced itself from PAS and continued with the Barisan Nasional coalition.

Mohamad also spoke about the need to focus on the younger generation, saying that Umno had not convinced the millennials.

“We can’t keep on telling them that Umno is the biggest party, fights for independence, builds the people and protects the Malays.

“Trust me, they won’t listen. Even if they do, they won’t be attracted to join us,” he said, adding that Umno must devise new ways to convince them.

Mohamad cited Muda’s one-seat victory in last week’s Johor election.

“The breakthrough (by Muda) is a reminder for us to continue to attend to the millennials,” he said, adding that with the urbanisation and modernisation of the country, Malays were becoming more sophisticated.

“Malays have changed. They are different from two to three decades ago,” he said.