Noting that the Umno president secured the full confidence of delegates to the recent Umno general assembly, the article said it was testament to Najib’s capacity for survival against the odds.
With Umno facing internal problems, and the 1MDB affair threatening his position, Najib rebranded his leadership as less liberal and moderate and spearheaded a party shift towards conservative Islam.
That move, the article said, might have saved his leadership then, but it was now coming to haunt him ahead of the general election which must be held by next August.
The perception of Umno moving closer to hardline Islamic politics and a rigid interpretation of Islam has led to increasing criticisms of racism and a renewed focus on minority voting blocs.
At the Umno assembly Najib said: “Umno is not a racist party. If we were, how could we accept and work with component parties of other races in harmony for decades?
“I must also stress that Umno is not anti-Chinese. But it is obvious that the Chinese and some of the Indians were also dragged, trapped, and victimised by the opposition’s [‘war on perception’] and lies.”
The article noted that after reaching out to the Chinese community, Najib followed up with the reassertion of talking points heavily criticised as exclusionary and racially tinged.
Umno leaders, the article said, had launched a concerted effort to reach out to ethnic Chinese voters. However, it added, the campaign had largely consisted of downplaying commentary pieces and opposition talking points, rather than dedicated policy to combat discrimination and improve minority representation in the country.
The report said the needs and rights of the ethnic Indian community had been largely ignored by the government, and many promises made during the 2013 election had yet to be realised.
It noted that with Indian issues typically siloed off to MIC representatives rather than relevant ministries, little action had been forthcoming. It said Najib had recently introduced a blueprint for the enhancement of the community, as part of efforts to woo Indian voters.
“As the election season progresses, Najib will have to engage further with minorities, with many pollsters expecting these ethnic blocs to swing the results. But given the ease with which he pushes a ‘Malay first’ policy, how many will fall for it?” The Diplomat article asked.