Hisommudin Bakar says the Umno deputy president knows that is the only effective way it can push for pro-Bumiputera policies.
Hisommudin Bakar, executive director of think tank Ilham Centre, said Mohamad—widely known as Tok Mat—was being “realistic” in his view on the matter.
He said Mohamad was well aware that the party would only be in a position to shape pro-Bumiputera policies and exert its influence on the community’s narratives within the national framework if it stayed in government.
“The Bumiputera agenda can only be effectively implemented if it is championed from within the government,” Hisommudin told FMT.
He said that parties outside the government lack the necessary tools and institutional support to deliver tangible benefits to the community, leaving them heavily reliant on rhetoric and populist slogans to win support.
On Sunday, Mohamad said it would be better for Umno to remain in government where the party could “drive new agendas suited to today’s realities”.
Otherwise, Umno would end up being merely spectators, he added.
The Umno deputy president’s comments came two weeks after former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced the formation of a loose Malay unity alliance to “save” the community from what he described as political and economic decline.
Universiti Malaya’s Awang Azman Pawi said any attempt by Umno to advance a particular agenda independently of the government would result in mere pressure and proposals that “go nowhere”.
He said this was evident when Umno joined the opposition following its defeat in the 14th general election in 2018.
“The Bumiputera agenda was no longer prioritised at certain levels of policymaking, and there were even proposals to reduce race-based policies in the name of meritocracy.”
However, Awang Azman said Umno’s relevance—and its appeal to younger voters—now depends on its ability to embrace and actively champion issue-based politics.
“Voters today do not judge parties solely by their past struggles, but by their policy implementation and its impact on daily life, especially in areas such as the cost of living, education, employment, technology, housing and administrative integrity,” he said.
Awang Azman noted that Umno has already begun shifting its Bumiputera narrative from race-based entitlements to inclusive, development-driven policies that benefit all communities.
Both analysts agreed that staying in the unity government provided Umno a “strategic leverage” to protect the party’s agenda and redefine its relevance.
“If Umno can translate the Bumiputera agenda into one that is more issue-based, inclusive, and grounded in integrity, then remaining in government is not just about survival. It will be about transformation,” said Awang Azman.
Disheartened but not surprised, says Zaid
Former law minister Zaid Ibrahim, however, offered a contrasting perspective, saying he was “disheartened, but not surprised” with the Umno deputy president’s justification for staying in government.
In a recent post on X on Tuesday, Zaid said Umno lost the support of the Malays because the party had abandoned its principles.
“It failed to take decisive action against corruption and abuse of power when the public demanded it most.
“What has Umno done since joining (the) Madani (government) to restore trust or advance meaningful reform? Nothing,” he said.
Zaid claimed that, despite Umno’s presence, the government has yet to draw up economic policies that “genuinely uplift Malays”.
“Where are the bold structural changes to education, entrepreneurship, and GLC governance that could make a difference? We see none,” he said. - FMT
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