KUALA LUMPUR: Umno must come up with a new blueprint to champion a “modern and progressive” Malay agenda to win over the community’s confidence again, says the party’s deputy president Mohamad Hasan.
Mohamad, also known as Tok Mat, said such a blueprint would be able to prove that Umno was aware of the issues affecting the Malay community, and that the party had long-term plans and strategies for them.
“Only then can we set ourselves apart from those who ride on religion and race in Malaysia’s political landscape, who exist only by playing up narrow-minded religious and racial sentiments for political survival.
“I propose that Umno immediately organise its own ‘Malay Congress’, gathering the best thinkers among the Malays to come up with this progressive Malay blueprint,” he said.
In launching the general assembly of Umno’s Wanita, Youth and Puteri wings, Mohamad said Umno has yet to succeed in presenting a more progressive agenda for the Malays.
“Four years have passed just like that while the nation has been hampered by various political turmoil.
“We seem to have been distracted from the decline and misery the Malay people are going through.
“We have also failed to put forward holistic solutions for them,” said Mohamad, who is also defence minister.
He said the retirement savings of the Bumiputeras had been decreasing annually, while the hardships of post-pandemic life had forced them to withdraw from their Employees Provident Fund (EPF) accounts over the past few years.
The Rembau MP expressed concern over reports that about 70% of Bumiputera EPF contributors had less than RM10,000 in retirement savings left.
“That means many will not be able to retire comfortably because they have to live below the poverty line in their old age. So, what exactly is Umno’s plan for the Malays?
“This is the real test of Umno’s role and relevance as a Malay party. What solutions will we present to overcome all these issues?” - FMT
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