KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional's move to chart a new path to redefine its identity hinges on empowering the next generation of leaders and stepping away from the past, said experts.
International Islamic University Malaysia's political analyst Dr Syaza Shukri said BN's focus on the future is paramount, as it had for a long time, depended on their past to claim legitimacy and garner support.
"The critical weakness is that BN's main claim for anything is what they have done in the past.
"While this is true and can sometimes be useful, it is limited.
"This generation does not care about what once was.
"They want to know what their future looks like.
"BN has not done that effectively before," she said.
As such, she said, the necessary steps within the new framework for BN were to focus on the next generation of leaders.
"Who are they (the leaders)?
"Where do they come from?
"How are they chosen?
"And most importantly, they need to find leaders who share the same aspirations of most Malaysians and not of the leaders who are too entrenched and are part of the problems of the country," she said.
Syaza also calls for continuity in leadership, where senior leaders guide emerging ones for a more progressive vision of Malaysia without compromising on BN's core values.
Yesterday, BN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi outlined a three-pronged framework to restructure the coalition's strengths and rebuild public support.
In his speech during the coalition's golden jubilee celebration, Zahid said the strategy focuses on rebranding, redefining, and restructuring the coalition.
This framework focuses on modernising BN's image to appeal to youths through inclusivity and innovative narratives.
It also calls for stronger grassroots engagement, strategic alliances, and refining candidate selection to rebuild trust.
Commenting on the possibility of a comeback for the coalition, Syaza said it could take at least a few election cycles.
"But if they play their cards right in terms of strategy, I believe they can maintain their relevance and from there build back support," she said.
Meanwhile, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia's Institute of Ethnic Studies deputy director Professor Dr Kartini Aboo Talib @ Khalid said the coalition's revival strategy has to promote diverse leadership, incorporating younger dynamic leaders to represent constituents and party organisations.
She said BN must first and foremost reconnect with its grassroots by emphasising the bottom-up approach to understanding voters' real concerns about the cost of living and consumer consumption.
"BN also needs to attend to and act on several critical weaknesses simultaneously as BN's political scandals and corruption deeply affect public trust.
"They need to reform transparently."
She also calls for a firm resolution to the issue of internal fragmentation, specifically the rivalry within the coalition parties.
Kartini said BN could regain dominance in the country's political field through its framework.
"BN needs to restore trust and ethical practices, actively engage and listen to the needs of communities both marginalised rural and urban communities.
"They need to form strong alliances with like-minded parties to strengthen their electoral base, and finally be agile to adapt to trends by recognising social needs and robust technological changes to stay relevant," she said.