Trashed at GE15, Umno continues to hog the limelight
Adding that PH still needs Umno, Mak said the Malay party continued to wield strong influence in big businesses and over the mainstream media.
(MalaysiaNow) – Barisan Nasional (BN) lynchpin Umno appears solidly entrenched in the limelight despite notching its worst electoral drubbing in its six-decade history at the 15th general election last November, even as debate continues on the future of the once-dominant Malay party.
The unexpected shift in support away from Umno notwithstanding, its recent general assembly received widespread coverage from the media and political observers – far more than any other party assembly despite its association with corruption and court charges.
It has also been faced with criticism over its decision at the assembly to allow the top two posts – held by Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Mohamad Hasan – to go uncontested when the party holds its polls this year.
Political observer Mak Khuin Weng said the general assembly this time around had continued to receive attention due to Umno’s move to join forces with Pakatan Harapan (PH) in forming the government.
“Their relevance will be measured again at the state elections to come,” he added.
If PH fails to form the government with Umno after these elections, he said, it would show that the Malay vote is firmly behind Perikatan Nasional (PN), cementing the split in voters throughout the peninsula.
