Umno must give youth the opportunity to make decisions
Umno President Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi attended the 2025 Lumut Umno Division Delegates Meeting at Dewan Merdeka, Manjung Municipal Council recently. Bernama FILE PIX
SHAH ALAM – Umno should open up greater opportunities for youth to actively participate in the party's decision-making process by involving them directly in leadership teams that work collaboratively to interpret and communicate the party's ideals in a way that speaks to the younger generation.
Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) political analyst Professor Datuk Dr Sivamurugan Pandian said this approach should be supported by the introduction of progressive policies that align with the aspirations of today's youth.
Doing so, he said, would encourage young voters to assess political affiliation based on values and direction rather than personal loyalty to individual figures. Umno must ensure that no significant generational gap exists. Inset: Sivamurugan
He emphasised that this step was crucial for Umno to keep pace with the evolving nature of today's political landscape, which was no longer driven by rhetoric.
'The reality is that politics is dynamic and no longer static. Umno must respond to this dynamism through substantive transformation, moving beyond mere historical values or legacy, though those still have their place.
'Umno must ensure there is no significant generational gap and instead build a leadership continuity that includes the systematic development of future members,' he told Sinar on Monday.
He was responding to recent remarks by Umno vice presidents Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani and Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail, who both called on the party to adopt a fresh strategy to win over younger voters. Umno vice president Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani. Bernama FILE PIX
Johari emphasised the need for Umno to move away from politics rooted in nostalgia and instead embrace a more dynamic and forward-looking approach, acknowledging that no political party can realistically expect to secure a clear majority in future general elections.
Wan Rosdy, meanwhile, highlighted the importance of adopting fresh strategies to reclaim lost seats, including the Kepala Batas constituency in Penang, ahead of the upcoming 16th General Election.
Building on this, Sivamurugan echoed the concerns raised by the party's senior leadership.
He stressed that Umno must also remain consistent in advancing an inclusive and progressive narrative that focuses on real, everyday issues affecting the public.
'The issues frequently raised require strong commitment, such as the cost of living, taxation, education, housing, healthcare, digitalisation and democracy.
'In the meantime, Umno should practise a form of moderate, realistic politics, humble and empathetic without compromising its ongoing defence of Malay-Muslim principles, but doing so through a more innovative approach suitable for the current age of artificial intelligence (AI),' he said.
He added that communication is now the most vital element in politics, as it needs to connect with people's hearts and emotions.
Therefore, he said, networks and communication channels must be built to enable sincere, trustworthy and integrity-based engagement.
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