06-07-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Umno must adopt bold strategies to avoid losing more seats in next election
KEPALA BATAS: Umno must adopt out-of-the-box strategies to prevent the party from losing more seats in the 16th General Election (GE16), said its vice-president, Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail.
He cited his experience as Pahang Menteri Besar, noting that despite implementing various strategies since 2018, Umno still lost seats in the last general election.
As such, he said the party cannot rely on the same methods but must embrace unconventional thinking to avoid being trapped in outdated approaches and repeating past outcomes.
"In Pahang, I've tried all sorts of approaches, but it seems Umno is still losing seats.
"So, for the upcoming general election, my approach cannot be the same as what was used in GE15.
"There must be extraordinary changes. We need to think outside the box," he told reporters after officiating the Kepala Batas Umno Division Meeting here today.
He said Umno must assess what needs to be done to make the party more appealing to voters, especially those from the younger generation, before the election.
"For instance, we've started engaging more aggressively with young people, including university students and Pahang youth living outside the state, by building connections with 18-year-old voters.
"We did this before, but not seriously. That is what I mean by extraordinary thinking, because if we keep using the same approach, we will keep getting the same results, and that has to change," he said.
Wan Rosdy added that the progressive and dynamic political landscape demands fresh approaches, particularly with the inclusion of 18-year-old voters who must be respected and actively engaged.
"We must change our approach and the kind of assistance we offer.
"We cannot keep doing the same things year after year.
"In terms of performance, we can improve, but we must also adopt new strategies that will instil confidence in the people," he said.
