UMNO to reposition itself as ‘grand home of the Malays’ with new committee, says party president Ahmad Zahid

Zahid also admitted on Friday that the party paid an expensive price for joining the unity government, saying that it was accused of betraying the interests of the Malays and Islam, merely to cling to power. 

“Furthermore, UMNO is accused of being fearful and submissive to its political partners within the unity government,” he said.

He also said that it has caused rifts in the close relations among Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties.

Longstanding BN component parties, including the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) and the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC), have already signaled their discontent, with some leaders openly touting the possibility of exiting the coalition. 

However, Zahid did say that the political landscape forced UMNO to accept the fact that no single party can govern on its own and that it was a new reality that demanded them to step out of their old political comfort zones.

“This is not easy. I know there are some among us who feel awkward and sceptical about cooperating with our former political rivals. However, this is the current necessity for the sake of national stability. Politics is the art of compromise. 

“Coalition politics demands the art of compromise and a greatness of spirit. We must learn to cooperate without sacrificing the fundamental principles of our struggle,” he said, pointing out that the current unity government is made up of 17 political parties.