Umno can regain Malay support if it continues with PH

Umno can regain the Malay support in the 16th general election if it retains its coalition with Pakatan Harapan (PH) since PH would provide an opportunity for Umno to contest in Maay majority seats, said political analyst Dr Mazlan Ali.

“I expect Umno would be able to contest in 70 Malay majority seats. This gives the opportunity for the party to regain Malay support. Looking at the current situation, it is difficult for Umno to win (all) but if Umno continues similar approaches as the one in the Nenggiri by-election it is not impossible for Umno to win many seats,” he said, reported Sinar Harian.

On that note Mazlan also said that Umno needs to self reflect and set the record straight on all the negative issues it has been associated with.

“Umno needs to show the people that the party can regain the Malay trust,” he said, Sinar Harian reported.

He also pointed out that the drop in Malay support for the party is due to the fact that Umno is no longer the only choice.

“We saw in the last state election, Umno hit rock bottom as it endured massive defeats in Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah which are Malay majority seats.

“This shows that Umno is facing its own crisis when its own members are turning their backs,” he claimed.

“However the 3,000 vote majority obtained in Nenggiri was unexpected and gave new hope to Umno.

“It proved Umno’s mettle to win convincingly in a 90 percent Malay majority seat.”

Mazlan’s views are also in line with Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s vision for the grand Malay party.