PETALING JAYA: Umno grassroots are demanding drastic changes at the top leadership following its dismal performance at the recent state elections, an analyst said.
Mujibu Muis from Ilham Centre said based on research he conducted with the grassroots, it was made clear that they want a change at the top level in order to rejuvenate the party.
“A majority of Umno members tell me they are not confident with president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi leading the charge against their rivals,” he said in a forum organised by the think tank on the recently concluded state elections.
Umno only managed to win 19 out of 108 seats it contested in six states in the Aug 12 polls. The party, which contested under the Barisan Nasional (BN) banner, won 14 seats in Negeri Sembilan, two each in Selangor and Penang, and one in Kelantan. It failed to win any of the seats it contested in Kedah and Terengganu.
Mujibu also said there were those in Umno who wanted the party to coax leaders who had been “ousted” to return to its fold.
“From these two findings, it is clear that Umno is facing a leadership crisis in every state and at every level.”
However, Mujibu said the desire for ousted leaders to return to the party to inspire changes befuddled him, likening it to pouring old wine in a new bottle.
“You want changes, yet you want leaders from the past to take over the party. So how will this effect change?”
He went on to say there was a need to re-introduce ethics and integrity into the party, saying it was pivotal to attract fence-sitters.
Mujibu said that of late Umno had often been linked to issues related to ethics and integrity.
“Wooing fence-sitters and retaining supporters of its allies (in the unity government) are critical issues for Umno and if matters revolving around ethics and integrity are not resolved, then the support from these two groups would erode.” - FMT
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