'Umno still relevant': Zahid pans 'lifeless' perception

Umno remains relevant despite the perception that it is now akin to a "lifeless" party after its poor electoral showings since 2018, party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi says.
 
He said Umno, which had gone through various challenges throughout its 77 years, still had 26 MPs and four more from other Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties. 

"When we look within, we should not forget history but if we keep digging into history without preparing to move forward, we will end up nowhere. 

"In 23 years, Umno will be 100 years old, meaning that in two more decades, when Umno is 100 years old, the outline of Umno's struggles may have changed."

He said despite being in the current government with only a small contribution of MPs, the party was functioning better compared to its ties with its partners in the previous government. 

Zahid, who is also deputy prime minister, said this in his mandate in conjunction with Umno's 77th anniversary celebrations in Kuala Lumpur last night. 

On seat allocations for the elections to be held in six states this year, Zahid, who is BN chairman, said he was leaving it to BN deputy chairman Mohamad Hasan to lead the negotiations with parties in the coalition government. 

"We leave it to the wisdom of the Umno deputy president (Mohamad) for the negotiations," he said. 

The six states where elections are due this year are Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Penang, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu.

On the unity government national convention this Sunday, Zahid said all 148 MPs backing the current government would attend the event where Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is expected to deliver an important mandate.