IT should no longer be business as usual for Umno, judging from the sentiment at this year’s general assembly, as the party is poised for deeper reforms ahead of the next general election.
Prime Minister and party president Datuk Seri Najib Razak may have won the hearts and minds of his party members by telling them what they wanted to hear: retaining and strengthening the Sedition Act 1948. But the real battleground for Umno is the next general election, due in 39 months. There are many variables that could decide the fate of Umno and Barisan Nasional, not just this piece of legislation.
The choice of BN candidates, the handling of bread-and-butter issues, and the role and influence of social media will be contributory factors.
Looking composed and calm, Najib delivered more forceful closing remarks yesterday after reading the mood following his opening address like a book.
He won a standing ovation not just from the thousands of delegates in the cavernous Dewan Merdeka, but also from those following the speech in the Putra World Trade Centre corridors and the nearby hotel.
“He has hit the soul and the heart of Umno,” said one Najib insider. “The perception of a gap between him and the grassroots is not true.”
The assembly, from the start, seemed like a one-issue assembly — the Sedition Act. In the end, that issue saved the day for the top party leadership.
Both deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Wanita chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil had campaigned strongly for the act not just be retained, but strengthened, as well.
Muhyiddin has come across lately as walking with a spring in his step. His Umno speech the other day was invigorating for the high message that he put across: “This is the last call for Umno” and “do or be dead”.
He returned to the same theme yesterday, telling the packed hall that it took just a small drop in BN votes to lose power, a stern reminder to members not to take things for granted.
Najib and Muhyiddin will now devote more time to party matters, meet division chiefs more often and, probably, strengthen the party machinery.
In some divisions, it is difficult to get a quorum for even routine meetings of party wings.
Party vice-presidents should also step up efforts to reach out to non-members, step up membership drives and roll out programmes that touch the people.
It should take a more offensive stance against the opposition on many issues that undermine the government and the party.
The party’s buzzwords at this year’s do were “solidarity” and “peremajaan” (rejuvenation), the latter, which Najib and other leaders were at pains to explain, did not mean replacing old leaders with new and younger leaders.
It is more about the rejuvenation of the mindset, work ethics and attitude in the party.
Najib and his team must now walk the talk in dealing with sensitive and thorny issues affecting the government and the party.
This general assembly has provided him with fresh capital to move forward with his government and party reform agenda. He will be tested again one year from now.
His ardent critics among the Malay crowd may be less vocal now with the changes in store for the Sedition Act. Now is the time to strengthen his hand and bring meaningful changes.