JOHOR BARU: Umno, long known as Malaysia’s “grand old party”, is no longer grand, says its former Johor chief Datuk Seri Hasni Mohammad (pic).
Hasni said it would be difficult for the party to regain the trust of the Malays if it continues to “hallucinate in reforming itself and fail to provide clarity of conviction”.
“In the popular nomenclature, Umno is known as Malaysia’s ‘grand old party,’ specifically for the Malays – now, it is no longer ‘grand’ but an ‘old’ party.
“In reforming Umno and Barisan Nasional, the people must see hope in their leadership and they have to make freedom of speech and constructive criticism more of a source of strength than a sign of weakness,” he said in a Facebook post yesterday.
Hasni had earlier given similar views in an online forum titled “Governing in the Shadow of Umno’s Long Rule: Anwar Ibrahim’s Formula and Prospects for Reform” organised by Singapore’s ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute.
The forum, moderated by the institute’s Dr Lee Hwok Aun, was also attended by Dr Kai Ostwald from the University of British Columbia’s School of Public Policy and Global Affairs.
Hasni said Umno and Barisan should continue to support the stability of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s unity government, especially in the upcoming six state elections.
“Even if Umno does not score a considerable win in the state elections, the unity government should not be seen as under threat of destabilisation; instead, it is the Umno leadership that will be faced with heavy scrutiny,” he said.
