Tony Paridi Bagang, who teaches policy studies at Universiti Teknologi Mara, believes that Sabahans and Umno members will take a close look at the Umno presidential election, as it will have significant bearing on Sabah Umno’s future.
He said Umno faced an uphill, if not almost impossible task, to recover its past glory in Sabah, adding that the recent election results had been a big slap in its face.
“Renewal of Umno is critical to regain Sabahans’ trust and support, particularly among the Muslim Bumiputeras.
“The message of change must be through fresh leadership at the top. The would-be president must be credible, dare to make changes and be capable of executing those changes,” Bagang said to FMT.
“Umno needs to come up with new approaches and should leave behind its old paradigm in order to regain footing in Sabah. No doubt, it will be very challenging and difficult for it to convince Sabahans.
“In the east coast, with the current Parti Warisan Sabah-led government, Umno will not be able to recapture those areas easily,” he said, referring to the fall of the supposed Umno stronghold in the locality.
Umno had swept the east coast in past elections, but only managed to secure seven of the 15 seats it had held this time. That figure further dwindled when the assemblymen for Balung, Sugut, Tanjong Batu and Sebatik left to pledge support for Warisan.
Bagang said Umno Youth leader Khairy Jamaluddin was among the most suitable presidential candidates, but Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, also known as Ku Li, was one of the capable “old hands”.
He said the open party election, where all positions are being contested, was a positive move by Umno.
He added however that it would be difficult for Umno to pick itself up in Sabah unless drastic measures were taken.
“It will depend on Umno’s transformation by the new leadership. For the time being, it is still uncertain what their next move would be.”
The disastrous showing of racial parties in Sabah such as Umno was not an indication that Sabahans rejected such parties, he added.
“It is too early to say that race-based parties are going to end soon. If we look at the Kadazandusun Murut (KDM) seats, the results indicate that people still voted based on ethnic lines.
“However, I would not deny that politics beyond ethnicity is very much welcome in Sabah,” Bagang said, adding that coalitions and pacts were still relevant and necessary in Malaysia’s multi-party system.
Umno polls a chance for rejuvenation, says political analyst