UMNO, Malaysia’s oldest political party, lost its 61-year hold on government after being voted out in the 14th General Election in 2018. The party, which ruled Malaysia under the Barisan Nasional coalition, lost power due to public anger over the 1MDB scandal. The scandal resulted in the conviction and jailing of former UMNO president and prime minister Najib Razak for corruption. In the most recent general election in 2022, UMNO only won 26 seats, its worst-ever performance.
Currently, UMNO is part of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s unity government along with Pakatan Harapan, Gabungan Parti Sarawak, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah, and Parti Warisan. Despite this, UMNO leaders at the party’s assembly are urging members to work towards regaining dominance in the national political landscape. The party’s youth chief and women’s wing chief emphasized the importance of UMNO’s role in championing the Malay community’s struggles.
At this year’s UMNO assembly, the party did not invite its partners in the unity government, opting to have only party members and representatives from BN component parties present. This decision was made to allow for internal discussions within the party. The assembly followed UMNO’s victory in the Nenggiri by-election in Kelantan, the party’s first by-election win since GE15 in 2022. The victory marked the first seat change between parties during a by-election since GE15.
In the Nenggiri by-election, BN candidate Mohd Azmawi Fikri Abdul Ghani won against Perikatan Nasional’s candidate by a majority of 3,352 votes. The by-election was triggered after the Kelantan speaker declared a Bersatu member had ceased to be part of the party for declaring support for Anwar as prime minister. This marked the first instance where Malaysia’s anti-party hopping law was invoked. The victory in the by-election was significant for UMNO as it demonstrated the party’s continued relevance and ability to win over voters.
UMNO’s performance in recent elections reflects the changing political landscape in Malaysia. While the party continues to work towards regaining dominance, it faces challenges in maintaining its position amidst a diverse political environment. The party’s focus on championing the Malay community’s interests remains central to its identity and appeal to supporters. With ongoing political developments and shifting alliances, UMNO’s future role in Malaysian politics will likely be influenced by its ability to adapt to changing circumstances and retain support from voters.
