Changing times make political collaborations a necessity, says Umno veep
Despite Umno’s defeat in GE14, the party's previous and significant contributions towards the country could not be ignored.
KUALA LUMPUR - Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani says the party must recognise the need to collaborate with other parties, given the changing political landscape and the wider range of political options now available.
He said despite Umno’s defeat in the 14th General Election (GE14), the party's previous and significant contributions towards the country could not be ignored.
"Umno has played a pivotal role in our country's history, particularly in its development and fight for independence, which no one can overlook.
"We endured 446 years of colonisation and Umno was founded 11 years before we finally gained independence in 1957.
"After that, we led the nation’s development until Umno’s defeat in GE14," he said when met by reporters during the Umno General Assembly World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL), today.
Despite this setback, Johari noted that Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi urged the nearly 34 million Umno members to rise again.
He said Zahid acknowledged that in today’s world, many countries find it challenging to secure absolute power to govern, so party members must be ready to adapt.
"This means accepting the necessity of collaborating with other parties due to the evolving political landscape and the variety of options available now.
"Unlike in the past, when we governed the country for 60 years post-independence, the current environment demands that Umno produces leaders who can inspire and gain voters' trust," he said.
The Plantation and Commodities Minister also said Umno's focus should now be on refining its approach, fostering cooperation with other parties and continuing to drive the nation's development in the years to come.
During GE14, Umno, under Barisan Nasional (BN) faced its first-ever defeat in Malaysia's election history, ending 61 years of governance and marking a pivotal moment in both the country's political landscape and Umno's own history.
This loss signalled the beginning of Umno's rapid decline, diminishing its influence in Malaysian politics.
However, in 2022, during GE15, Umno made a strong comeback by joining the unity government, partnering with former rivals like DAP and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).
This coalition, known as Pakatan Harapan-Barisan Nasional (PH-BN) was formed under the ruling of the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah.
