Umno faces 'drastic decline' in hardcore supporters, says Mohamad

 

UMNO AGM | Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan has admitted that the party faces a “drastic decline” in the number of its hardcore supporters.

Addressing party delegates, Mohamad said Umno must now change and can no longer rely on old approaches in facing the challenge.

“Our hardcore supporters have shrunk drastically.

“Two main reasons: They have shifted to supporting other political parties, and second, due to the major emergence of a new generation that has no connection whatsoever with Umno,” he said.

“So, in dealing with them, we cannot keep using the old ways, the old mentality, and old assumptions,” he said when launching the simultaneous opening of Umno’s three wings general assembly - Wanita, Youth and Young Women - at the World Trade Centre (WTC), Kuala Lumpur tonight.

Mohamad Hasan

Also present were Umno Women chief Noraini Ahmad, Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh, and Umno Young Women chief Nurul Amal Fauzi.

Mohamad said the Malay nationalism ideology is no longer a potent call to garner support from the masses.

The foreign minister added that Umno needs to champion issues such as justice, quality of life, a dignified retirement, and other issues that do not revolve solely around Malay-Muslim matters.

“Malay nationalist ideology is no longer enough for us to garner support. They want something beyond identity politics to get them to support Umno,” he added.

Mohamad also attributed BN's dismal electoral performance in Sabah to the coalition’s failure to understand the rapidly changing political landscape.

He said Umno was too preoccupied with national issues without offering a comprehensive agenda for Sabah.

“We failed to read the rapidly changing environment. That’s why we got punished by Sabahans,” Mohamad said. - Mkini