UMNO Needs To Adapt A New Strategy For General Election - Mohamad

KUALA LUMPUR, May 2 (Bernama) -- UMNO needs to adapt a new strategy to face the increasingly dynamic political landscape ahead of the Melaka and Johor state elections and the 16th general election (GE16), said UMNO deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.

He said changes in voter behaviour, current issues and the political environment demand a more flexible approach that is based on current reality.

"Today's general election is no longer static, the landscape is changing, voters are changing, issues are changing. So our strategy must also change.

"UMNO's election strategy is not determined today. Our strategy is determined based on the reality of the moment, when the time comes," he said in his opening speech at the UMNO 80th Anniversary Convention at Kuala Lumpur World Trade Centre, today.

Also present were UMNO president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, Wanita chief Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad, Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh and Puteri chief Datuk Nurul Amal Mohd Fauzi.

Mohamad said in modern politics, flexibility is an important weapon to restore UMNO's strength as the dominant party, including by assessing the people's sentiments, the strength of the opponent and adjusting the approach to face the election.

"Today's election is not just a talk. It is an analysis. Today's election is not just a poster war. It is a data war. Candidates must have integrity, be able to win, and are close to the people," he said.

He also stressed that UMNO needed to chart a new direction that was bolder and focused on the future to ensure the party's survival in an increasingly challenging political landscape.

According to him, UMNO could not continue to rely on historical nostalgia, but instead needed to offer confidence in the future through clear and relevant ideas to the people.

Mohamad said the party's main focus at the moment is to restore, nurture and rebuild UMNO's strength based on its experience in managing crises and the loyalty of its members.

In the meantime, he also stressed the importance of strengthening party unity as the main basis of strength, and reminded that division would only weaken UMNO's role in the country's political arena.

"A divided party will be easily manipulated and used by external political interests. It will lead the party into an arena that will eventually, bit by bit, marginalise and diminish UMNO's role.

"Therefore, in a moment as important as now, there should be no elements who want to pit us against each other," he said.

Commenting on current challenges, Mohamad said UMNO needed to address global and digital changes, including producing a professional generation and ensuring the party remained relevant among the younger generation.

In addition, he said UMNO also needed to manage the reality of a diverse society well and provide future leadership that is credible and of high calibre, besides addressing challenges strategically and openly to prevent the party from being marginalised in the long term.

-- BERNAMA