Johari to Umno: Stop dwelling on past, face today's realities

New Straits Times

3 days ago

KUANTAN: Umno must stop dwelling on its decades of past glory and instead confront current realities, including winning the support of young voters, to re-establish itself as a strong political force ahead of the 16th General Election (GE16).
Its vice-president, Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, said the party must stay relevant in today's political landscape, particularly by engaging and convincing young voters, who are expected to comprise nearly 40 per cent of the electorate in GE16.
"Umno was once a dominant party, but now holds only 26 parliamentary seats. It led the country for nearly 60 years, but in the past two terms, it has operated within a power-sharing government.
"The party must learn from its past mistakes, avoid repeating them, and focus on rebuilding. Today's youth are educated, with many holding PhDs, master's degrees, bachelor's degrees or diplomas, and a significant number excelling in TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training).
"They evaluate leaders based on present-day actions, not the party's historical achievements. Young people are not interested in Umno's past glories. Instead, they are seeking leaders who demonstrate integrity, accountability and credibility, and who are free from corruption.
"There are times when their views may seem overly idealistic, but many of the points they raise are valid," he said in his speech when opening the Kuantan Umno division delegates' meeting here today.
Also present was Kuantan Umno division chief Datuk Seri Ab Hamid Mohd Nazahar.
Johari said that to gain young voters' support, Umno must meet their expectations, as many now view political issues from a very different perspective.
"After completing their studies, young people tend to think differently compared to previous generations.
"We must reach out to youths in institutions of higher learning, outside universities, and even those who have just completed their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia, especially now that the voting age has been lowered," he said.
Meanwhile, Johari urged constituencies that lost in the 15th General Election not to give up but to intensify their efforts to win in the next general election.
"We must not give up on politics, as doing so will diminish our enthusiasm. In our political struggle, we need sincerity and a great deal of patience, and these qualities that will ultimately lead to success.
"Everyone must work as a team, regardless of who is contesting, to ensure victory for the constituency. I believe that such determination will help us reclaim seats lost by narrow margins, including the Kuantan parliamentary constituency, which was lost by a majority of 2,866 votes," he said.