UMNO, the oldest political party in Malaysia, lost its 61-year hold on government during the 14th General Election in 2018 when the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition was voted into power. This marked the first time UMNO lost power since the country’s independence, with widespread public anger over the 1MDB scandal being a significant factor in the party’s downfall. The scandal led to the conviction and jailing of former UMNO president and prime minister Najib Razak for corruption.
In the last general election in November 2022, UMNO only won 26 seats, its worst-ever performance. This was a significant decrease from the 54 seats it won in 2018 and the 89 seats in 2013. Currently, BN is in Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s unity government along with Pakatan Harapan (PH), Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), and Parti Warisan (Warisan).
At the UMNO Youth wing assembly, Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh called on delegates to work towards returning the party to dominance. UMNO’s women’s wing chief, Noraini Ahmad, highlighted the party’s dedication to the Malay community and its role in embodying the Malay struggle. The assembly did not invite partners in the unity government, such as the Malaysian Chinese Association, the Malaysian Indian Congress, and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah, to provide more space for internal discussions.
The UMNO assembly followed its victory in the Nenggiri by-election in the Kelantan state legislature, marking the party’s first by-election win since the 15th General Elections in November 2022. This was also the first time a seat changed hands from one party to another during a by-election since the 2022 elections. BN candidate Mohd Azmawi Fikri Abdul Ghani won the Nenggiri seat, defeating Perikatan Nasional’s Mohd Rizwadi Ismail by a majority of 3,352 votes.
During the state elections in August last year, Mohd Azizi Abu Naim, then with Bersatu, won the Nenggiri seat with a narrow majority over the BN candidate. The by-election was triggered after the Kelantan speaker declared that Mohd Azizi had ceased to be a member of Bersatu after declaring support for Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister, triggering the country’s anti-party hopping law for the first time.UMNO’s focus on internal party matters and reclaiming its dominant status in Malaysian politics was evident during the assembly, with delegates urged to work towards strengthening the party’s position. The party’s resilience and ability to adapt to changing political landscapes will be crucial as it seeks to regain its former glory and influence in the country’s political landscape.
