KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 16 (Bernama) -- UMNO president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s policy address at the 2025 UMNO General Assembly today is seen as opening a new dimension in the party’s struggle, with an emphasis on openness of thought and a political approach grounded in negotiation and national consultation.
UMNO vice-president Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said the party president not only called on members to unite, but also opened the door for all Malays to come together to drive and build renewal within the party.
“Considering that the country has been independent for 68 years, the expectations of the Malay community in particular have changed significantly. Over nearly eight decades of UMNO’s existence, it is clear that we must embrace major changes and take into account the views of the younger generation.
“If not, UMNO will be left behind,” he told reporters after the address at the World Trade Centre (WTC) Kuala Lumpur here.
Johari, who is also Investment, Trade and Industry Minister, said major changes are necessary for UMNO to align with the new thinking of today’s Malay society, which is increasingly different from that of the early post-independence era.
UMNO Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Mohd Sharkar Shamsuddin said the keynote address demonstrated the UMNO president’s willingness to open space for all parties to jointly consider issues concerning the interests of Islam and Malays in the country.
“Today’s policy address brings a new dimension to UMNO’s struggle, where the president has publicly opened the door as wide as possible for us to jointly think about Islam and Malays in Malaysia,” he said.
He described the approach as a very positive sign, countering perceptions held by some quarters that UMNO is a closed party.
“The explanations, concepts and ideas presented (by the president) represent a very good direction for UMNO,” he said.
Another UMNO Supreme Council member, Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican, described the policy address as rich with messages and deep perspectives.
He said the address was packed with remarkable viewpoints, particularly the emphasis on the concept of national consultation, which he described as the clearest signal of a shift in the country’s political landscape.
“One aspect that caught my attention is what can be described as national consultation. This national consultation is the strongest signal for everyone to understand that this represents a new political dynamic,” he said.
He added that the new political dynamic is no longer based on dominance of power, but rather on the ability to negotiate as the real tool in today’s political scenario.
“This new political dynamic is grounded in one principle — negotiation. The real tools of politics in the current scenario are not about being dominant or being the final number; it is about your ability to negotiate,” he said.
-- BERNAMA
