Umno’s Nenggiri victory must be a catalyst for party’s revival

 

From Zuki Boestaman

Barisan Nasional’s victory in the Nenggiri by-election last Saturday is a clear sign that Umno under a capable leader can win back the Malay votes.

The Nenggiri by-election showed that Umno stalwart Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah was able to achieve that turnaround, a clear sign that a reformed Umno is capable of winning the hearts of the Malays.

Looking ahead, a transformed Umno can make major gains in GE16 – and this is what Umno should now aim to do.

Umno’s win has broken the myth that PAS is all-strong in Kelantan, and also destroyed the mistaken belief that Malays have abandoned Umno’s moderate values and drifted into PAS’s intolerant agenda.

A strong Umno, with a narrative of good governance, care for the rakyat and tolerance, will be able to convey the right messaging to the people.

Umno has within its ranks potential leaders like no other party, able to take Umno, and actually the country forward, once it recreates its image.

What Tengku Razaleigh did for Umno in Nenggiri should now be done on the national scale.

This will trigger a stronger MCA and MIC, reviving the multi-racial spirit and bringing together the nation rather than leading to racial and religious polarisation.

It is in Umno’s interest to start this process, with the Nenggiri by-election victory providing the impetus for change.

It is time for a revamp in leadership, for a new script to be written, and for the leadership to take the new narrative to the people of Malaysia.

This effort must start now and be carried out over the next two years. Otherwise the Nenggiri victory will be a flash in the pan, an isolated win with no meaning in the larger political landscape. - FMT

Zuki Boestaman is an FMT reader.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.