Umno grassroots admit need to come to terms with DAP alliance

Party members accept that the party’s focus is on serving the people and strengthening the economy while safeguarding Malay interests.

(FMT) – Some 20 months after joining forces with one-time arch-rival DAP as part of the unity government, Umno’s grassroots members finally appear to be coming to terms with the new political dynamic.

They say the party appears to have successfully shifted its focus to serving the people and strengthening the economy without abandoning its core purpose of safeguarding Malay interests.

Padang Besar Umno Youth secretary Azhar Sudin said members have had to put up with the “UmDAP” label by rivals who just want to rattle the confidence of party members at the grassroots level.

However, he added, such tactics have failed. He said many members have over time been successfully coaxed by the leadership into accepting the current dynamics.

“Perlis is not the only state that needs the help of the unity government, including in terms of machinery. Umno needs help from its Pakatan Harapan allies in several other states as well,” he told FMT, adding that, apart from DAP, Umno has also benefited from assistance received by other parties in the coalition.

Until the 15th general election (GE15) in November 2022, Umno and DAP were fierce rivals, with Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi famously declaring the party’s “No Anwar (Ibrahim), No DAP” in the lead up to GE15.

That position, however, changed when the country experienced a hung parliament after the nationwide polls which eventually led to Pakatan Harapan, Barisan Nasional and coalitions from Sabah and Sarawak pulling together to form the current government.

Batu Kawan Wanita Umno chief Noraina Safura Mohamed said almost 50% of the members in her division have come to accept the alliance and now understand why the pact was formed.

“It is not as though we have suddenly all become DAP members,” she said.

“We formed this alliance (with PH) on the advice of the king. Umno’s participation was necessary for the government to be put in place.”

Noraini said party leaders are still going to the ground to explain to the grassroots that this is not an alliance per se but that the parties are working together for the economy and to ensure the well-being of the people.

However, Mazrul Asyraf Mazli, a Langkawi Umno Youth division leader, admitted that some grassroots members have found it difficult to accept Umno’s cooperation with DAP and are still protesting it to this day.

“It’s still very difficult (to get these Umno grassroots to come to terms with the party’s alliance with PH and DAP). In the last state elections when a candidate from PH was fielded, many quit the party to join our rivals,” he said.