‘UMNO MUST ACCEPT GE14 DEFEAT’
Party must pick itself up and return to its struggles, says Mohamad
UMNO has no one but itself to blame for its defeat in the 14th General Election. In making this admission, the party’s new deputy president, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, offered a heartfelt apology for both Umno and Barisan Nasional’s loss in GE14.
Umno, he said, took responsibility for the defeat.
“On behalf of myself and the new Umno leadership, I apologise for Umno and BN’s failure in GE14,” he said at the joint opening of Umno Youth, Women and Puteri wings’ annual general assembly at the Putra World Trade Centre yesterday.
Mohamad said for the first time ever, he did not know how to start his speech, but said a good leader should always take responsibility for any outcome.
He said it was not easy to face Umno members and the Malays, and assume responsibility for the loss of Umno’s power. The loss, he said, needed to be accepted by all members as it was the price to pay for their struggles.
He said for the first time ever in the long history of Umno, it had found itself in a position of not being a ruling party and had lost its power and influence.
This, he said, was because of the party’s failure to understand that Malaysia had changed.
“We failed to appreciate that the social structure, economic approach and political practice have undergone phases of modernisation and transformation.”
He said there were three important phenomena that underscored Umno’s failure in GE14.
“The first was the impact of globalisation driven by rapidity of information and communications technology, which gave rise to a new generation of Malaysians — a generation that does not merely nod and conform.”
The second, he said, was that the modernisation of Malaysia had produced a new generation of Malays.
“Thirdly was Umno and BN’s failure to evolve according to contemporary demands. The structure, culture, policy and political mindset of Umno and BN bear a 20th century image, while Malaysia has long been in the 21st century.”
However, Hasan said, despite these factors, the standout reason behind Umno’s defeat was the loss of trust among the Malays.
To a section of the Malays, Umno was seen to have lost its moral and value compass, he said.
“When the economy enjoyed rapid growth and Malaysia developed, it gave birth to a large Malay middle and upper class population. This led to the emergence of a new belief, which is the power of money.
“Even more devastating, this culture spread into politics. Umno and its leaders were catalysts who nurtured the belief that money is power.
“Everything was about money. Everything required remuneration, rewards and material possession. And in the end, Umno’s struggle was no longer about the survival of the Malays.”
The struggle, he said, was instead about the survival of specific leaders who could provide rewards, contracts and projects.
Mohamad said Umno must come out of its denial syndrome, not be too defensive, too sensitive and to consider criticisms thrown at the party.
Umno, he said, must accept that the Malays views and reprimands were because they cared.
“Umno must be rebuilt with values, morals and solid ideologies. Umno must forget its lust for power.
“Umno must step forward and work hard to convince the Malays that the party will dedicate all its energy in the next 10 years to be a movement for the rise of the Malays, a new Malay renaissance.”
Mohamad called on the three wings to rise and become more resilient to lead the Malays.
He said the party must be the “safety net for the Malays”. Pakatan Harapan, he added, did not represent the majority of the Malay parties.
He said therefore, the demands of rebuilding Umno, healing it and restoring its power “is no longer an option, but an obligation”.
Hasan said the following values and principles must be adhered to as a guidance for Umno’s revival.
“First, Umno must return to the basis of its establishment, return to its ideology of benefiting the Malays. This revival must be based on values, morals and its ideology. Every Umno member, every division must understand the true ideology and doctrine of Umno.”
He said secondly, it was key that Umno was positioned again in the midst of local, national, and global changes.
“We must have a clear blueprint of how Umno must be revamped. I suggest that the Youth, Wanita and Puteri wings come together and chart their path forward by drafting the Umno Blueprint 2030.”
The blueprint, he said, would detail strategies that would be used to convince the Malays and to regain their support for Umno.
“We must be clear. Rebuilding Umno is not only about regaining power.”
The 2018 Umno General Assembly started yesterday with the opening of its wings, Wanita, Youth and Puteri.
The general assembly will be opened by Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today. About 5,739 delegates are expected to attend the two-day assembly.