PETALING JAYA, July 9 – Umno should leverage its grassroots power rather than depend on its partners in the unity government to regain its strength, according to political analyst Ariff Aizuddin Azlan from Universiti Teknologi Mara. Ariff endorsed former Umno vice-president Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s suggestion for continued engagement with local communities and the youth, emphasizing that grassroots are crucial to the party’s resurgence.
Ariff noted that Ismail, a former prime minister, might be subtly warning Umno’s leadership against overly focusing on cooperation within the unity government at the expense of grassroots sentiments. “If the party is perceived as relying on its unity government partners, it will become increasingly irrelevant among Malay voters,” he told FMT. Meanwhile, Azmil Tayeb of Universiti Sains Malaysia highlighted the challenge of convincing grassroots members to accept the alliance with long-time rival DAP, suggesting the need for tangible benefits and a focus on economic issues affecting young people.
