In Onn Jaafar's vision lies the path to Umno's rebirth

The defeat of Umno after 61 years at the helm last week sent shockwaves nationwide. Many who felt oppressed by the Malay party rejoiced at being freed from their grasp on power.

But while some believe that Umno should be banished from the history books forever, the party still has a major role to play in the country.

"I can't believe I'm saying this, but we need Umno now, we need a strong opposition to provide check and balance," Univerisiti Kebangsaan Malaysia-based analyst Faisal Hazis told Malaysiakini.

A strong opposition is crucial in any democracy, to ensure that the government lives up to its commitments and does not get away with implementing policies detrimental to society.

But in order to be a strong viable opposition, and to ensure its future survival, Umno must undergo a transformation.

The key to this rebirth, might just lie in Umno's past, in the vision of its founder Onn Jaafar.

In his time as president, Onn had grown to dislike the party’s communal race-based policies, and wanted to open up the party to non-Malays.

Umno had rejected this call, and Onn left the party in 1951.

Now, 67 years later, it is Umno that has been rejected by Malaysians – including a large number of Malays, without whom BN's defeat would not have been possible.

Faced with such unpopularity, transforming Umno to the ‘United Malaysian National Organisation’, might just give the party the fresh start it needs.

While such a move could alienate some of Umno's rural Malay supporters, political analyst Ahmad Atory Hussain (photo), himself a former Umno member, believes most Malays are ready for such a shift.

"I think the time has come. Deep down in my heart I think Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad is trying to realise Onn's vision (with Bersatu).

"So before Pakatan Harapan does it (with Bersatu), it is better if Umno opens up its membership first," Atory said.

Mahathir's Umno splinter party Bersatu currently allows non-Malays to join as associate members – but who cannot vote or contest in party polls at present.

This had given rise to grouses among some Harapan supporters, who believe the time for race-based parties are over.

If Umno can reinvent itself as a truly Malaysian party for all races, it could appeal to this demographic.

Bold leadership

Executing such a bold transformation, however, requires bold leadership.

For Faisal and Atory, the man for the job is none other than Khairy Jamaluddin.

"He is the most capable person to lead Umno, to reform itself to be a strong viable opposition," Faisal said, explaining that the Umno Youth chief is the most popular of its leaders, and could attract the youth votes the party will need in the next general election.

Following last week’s defeat, Khairy had rallied the party in calling for immediate reforms, while his Youth wing took the lead in pressuring Najib Abdul Razak – the man who led the party to its electoral defeat – into stepping down as Umno president.

Many saw the move as a precursor to a possible bid by Khairy to become the new president himself.

However, sources within Umno Youth say that he will not challenge for the presidency, and it is likely that next month's party polls will not see a contest for the president and deputy president posts at all.

Instead, the party will most likely be led for the next three years by Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who took over from Najib on Saturday, and acting deputy president Hishammuddin Hussein.

Neither Faisal nor Atory believe Zahid could execute the transformation needed by Umno, however.

Atory stated that Zahid's leadership will only be beneficial for Umno in the short term, in terms of uniting and stabilising the party.

"However he would need the support of Hishammuddin, Khairy, and the Wanita wing, otherwise he will be in trouble," he said. - Mkini