Umno commences its four-day general assembly today amidst a high-stakes political environment. Discussions are expected to focus heavily on the party’s role within the unity government and the ongoing legal predicament of its former leader, Najib Razak.
As Umno enters its fourth year as a partner in the unity government, the party has secured significant advantages, including key ministerial roles and a return to federal influence. This comes despite its underwhelming performance during the 15th General Election in 2022.
However, the partnership with Pakatan Harapan, especially the alliance with DAP, remains a contentious issue among the party’s grassroots. These internal frictions have been magnified by Umno Youth chief Akmal Saleh, who recently called for the party to exit the Anwar Ibrahim-led administration to revive the Muafakat Nasional alliance with PAS. This proposal has been categorically dismissed by party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Internal divisions and leadership stability
Akademi Nusantara analyst Azmi Hassan noted that while debates regarding Umno’s position in the government are unavoidable, the majority of delegates are likely to align with Zahid Hamidi’s leadership on this matter.
Sharing a similar sentiment, Syaza Shukri from the International Islamic University of Malaysia described such debates as largely rhetorical. She observed that while some grassroots members might resonate with Akmal Saleh’s discomfort over working with DAP, the party’s tradition of maintaining hierarchical stability suggests that Zahid Hamidi’s directives will ultimately prevail.
Experts believe delegates will instead pivot toward more pressing issues, specifically Umno’s ongoing struggle to regain political relevance and restore the confidence of Malay voters. Since the major setbacks of the 14th General Election in 2018, the party has found it difficult to reclaim its once-dominant position in the national landscape.
The Sabah precursor and the Najib factor
Although Umno has seen minor successes in recent by-elections, Barisan Nasional’s poor showing in the Sabah state polls, where it won only six out of 41 contested seats, highlights the uphill battle ahead.
This sense of urgency is further heightened by the upcoming Kinabatangan and Lamag by-elections on Jan 24. Occurring just a week after the assembly, these polls serve as a critical gauge for the party before the next general election. Azmi Hassan emphasized that evaluating the party’s performance in Sabah is vital, as it serves as a precursor for future national contests.
Najib Razak remains a focal point
The shadow of Najib Razak continues to loom over the assembly, with the former prime minister having served over three years of his prison sentence. Grassroots sentiment remains strongly tied to his situation, showing little sign of moving on.
Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki disclosed that out of 662 motions submitted for the assembly, 104 pertain to Najib Razak, with many specifically calling for a full royal pardon. Despite this, analysts are skeptical that delegates would push for a government exit over this issue.
Azmi Hassan warned that leveraging Najib Razak’s convictions in the 1MDB and SRC International cases as a reason to leave the government would be counterproductive to the party’s interests. Meanwhile, Syaza Shukri cautioned that an aggressive push for a pardon could alienate moderate and non-Malay voters, noting that such efforts largely reflect the desires of specific supporters rather than the general public.
Both analysts agree that the positions of the party’s top two leaders, Zahid Hamidi and his deputy Mohamad Hasan, remain secure for now. The current priority is to utilize government machinery to rebuild Umno’s influence, with serious discussions regarding leadership changes likely deferred until the lead-up to the 16th General Election.
