UMNO Needs To Get Out Of Its Old Cocoon, Adapt To New Political Approaches - Ahmad Zahid

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 14 (Bernama) -- UMNO president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the party needs to break out of its old cocoon and immediately adapt to new political methods based on technology, especially social media platforms.

He said the change must be made immediately as UMNO needs to prepare to face the 16th general election (GE16) which is about 22 months away.

Ahmad Zahid said the priority is to strengthen the party’s perspective on social media not only about the party's policies, but also to defend UMNO from attacks by political enemies.

"Our problem now is that we don't attack, even if we are attacked, we don't defend. That's why we are 'seafaring', so if we don't use new methodologies or approaches, then we will be defeated," he said when opening the Digital Era Political Symposium 2026 organised by UMNO Malaysia Information here today.

For example, he said that world political leaders such as US President Donald Trump, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto have taken advantage of social media platforms, especially TikTok, to gain support, especially from young voters, to win elections.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, said that the weakness in commanding social media has also resulted in various initiatives implemented by the MADANI Government since it governed Putrajaya not being very popular among the people.

"The Chief Secretary to the Government (Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar) at the last Cabinet Retreat Session announced that since the MADANI Government was established, there have been 733 new initiatives presented to the people, but who has spoken positively about the Prime Minister? The government's achievements? Not many.

"Why? Few are disseminating them, the anti-establishment groups are increasing, why? because the opposition is smarter in overcoming what the establishment does to the government,” he said.

-- BERNAMA