KUALA LUMPUR: Buoyed by its recent victory in the Nenggiri by-election in Kelantan, the Umno General Assembly this year will no doubt see leaders and party delegates in high spirits.
The win in the Aug 17 by-election not only proves that Umno is still relevant in Kelantan, but it also signals the return of Malay voter support for Barisan Nasional's lynchpin party.
Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi recently sat down with journalists from several media outlets, including The New Straits Times, to discuss key issues, including the party's strategy to win back Malay support, which he plans to address during the four-day conference, which begins today.
Here are excerpts of the interview.
Q: Can you elaborate on the preparations for the Umno General Assembly (PAU) this time around?
A: We are nearing the third year of being in the unity government, and there is a great sense of cooperation among cabinet members. This is evident from the many decisions made by the cabinet under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's leadership. We can see that the gross domestic product (GDP) performance, inflation, and salary adjustments, for example, are among important elements that have been addressed by the government. We now have to gear up for the 16th General Election.
Q: How does the 'old school' politics of talking about development, or a party's track record resonate with the people these days?
A: Development politics and service politics are still important. However, if issues faced by the people are not addressed, talking about development and service track record is not going to get you anywhere. Moreover, in managing perception, there is a need for a drastic change in how we handle things. But more importantly, the stance of the 18 parties in supporting cabinet decisions, as well as decisions made by the government, must be understood by leaders at all levels. This has already been initiated, but more needs to be done.
Q: What are the challenges faced by the unity government in addressing and managing public perception?
A: We feel that the changes in relation to the development of the country's political landscape have yet to have a significant impact in influencing the sentiments of the people. There is always room for improvement, and we must strive to work outside the box to achieve the desired results. We have a framework in the decision-making process, but important decisions must be understood at all levels, right up to the grassroots.
Q: Will this gathering set the stage for Umno to win back Malay voters in the upcoming general election?
A: You read my mind. This will be addressed when I deliver three speeches: the president's keynote address, the policy speech, and the winding-up speech. Apart from the takeaways from these three speeches, we will also consider proposals raised by delegates from all the wings during the general assembly. We are aware that the results of the by-election where Umno contested, or the results of the Kemaman parliamentary by-election, cannot be used as an indicator of Malay support for the party.
Q: Can you comment on claims by observers that the gathering this year will set the stage for the next party election?
A: This year, there is no resolution related to the party election. The next party election will only be held in 2026. All we want to focus on is how Umno, as a party, can implement our (the federal government's) agenda for the people. For example, I chair the Bumiputera Economic Congress. As such, we want to know to what extent can the six core pillars in the programme, with more than 90 initiatives, be implemented. Although this is a government programme, we, as party leaders, must view it in the context of the party's role in helping the government implement it. Similarly, with the National TVET Council.
Even though it is a government programme, as party president, I must also remind party members not to miss the opportunity to send their children and the younger generation to participate in this programme. It should be viewed in the context of the party. I am also the Malaysian Halal Council chairman. We have received positive reactions from entrepreneurs for programmes under the council. At the same time, we also found that when it comes to ingredients in halal products, 87 per cent of them did not come from Muslim suppliers.
Q: What are your comments on claims that there was some 'filtering' during the debate sessions at PAU?
A: There is no such thing.
Q: What is your response to critics who claim that Umno Youth is more progressive compared to Wanita Umno and Puteri Umno wings, which seem to lack presence in the country's political scene?
A: We need to assess the situation in the broader context. If a wing is considered very forward just because it frequently issues statements, it is not fair to the other two wings. They may not frequently issue statements, but they organise many more activities (compared to Umno Youth). This is a perception, based on mere observation. In reality, all three wings have actually employed the best methods and approaches, according to their own models.
I am nevertheless grateful because, in the Nenggiri by-election, the candidate was from the Youth wing. I saw that Umno Youth worked hard in the by-election. And the Umno Youth chief (Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh) never left Nenggiri throughout the two weeks of campaigning, except when I visited his division (in Jasin, Melaka). After that, he (Dr Akmal) immediately returned to Nenggiri to help with the campaign.
Q: Speaking about perception, what is Umno planning to do to improve the perception of the party, especially in light of the possibility that state elections in Sabah, Melaka, and Johor might be held earlier than scheduled?
A: As a dynamic political entity, Umno's central leadership, in collaboration with state leaders, has conducted several data analyses, and implemented actions to address weaknesses in state governments. This is to ensure that the perception of these state governments improves. This has indeed become part of our routine. We have made the necessary preparations and formulated strategies, but we will not disclose it. If we do, they would no longer be strategies. In the case of Sabah, we are aware that the last period to call for a state election is next October. If the state election is held earlier than scheduled, what is BN's strategy to face the polls? Another question is whether BN will go solo, or work together with the present state government (Gabungan Rakyat Sabah). I have said several times that this decision will only be announced when the state legislative assembly is dissolved. We will soon face the Mahkota state seat by-election in Johor. I have actually gone to the ground to check on the outstanding issues there.