By Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy
6 hours ago
IS there a second lease of life for once dominant political parties such as UMNO?
Nationalist parties such as the Congress in India and Kuomintang (Guomindang) in Taiwan had their heyday. It would be near impossible for these and other nationalist parties to come to power again.
The political, social and economic circumstances that propelled UMNO as the national party might no longer exist.
Today, UMNO might be remembered as the party that negotiated political independence from the British. Beyond this, the conditions that once sustained UMNO’s dominance may no longer be present.
Unfortunately, the nationalist sentiments that once kept UMNO as the super-ordinate political party may have faded significantly.
However, UMNO cannot be written off from the political arena. It still commands a certain degree of support among Malays even if such backing is gradually eroding.
Sudden renewed interest in UMNO
Lately, there have been talks that UMNO wants to make a serious comeback to the centre of Malaysian politics.
UMNO might have just over 20 parliamentary seats but it has been well-rewarded by the Madani government of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Its lack of political weight has not prevented the party from securing positions such as deputy prime ministerships (DPM), Menteri Besar posts and not to mention appointments in GLCs (government-inked companies) and other government-linked institutions.
It appears that the Pakatan Harapan (PH)-led coalition needs UMNO more than UMNO needs PH.
The return of past leaders who were once sacked or marginalised seems to have revitalised UMNO. There are also indications of increasing membership at the grassroots level. Whether such support is temporary or long term remains uncertain.
Why there is this sudden renewed interest in UMNO appears baffling. In the past, UMNO leaders were accused of corruption, money laundering and other abuses.
Some leaders escaped corruption charges under mysterious circumstances. At its weakest point, UMNO was regarded as a party that catered only for the rich and powerful.
Malays joined UMNO not because of its nationalist ideals but because it served as a pathway to wealth and political connections.
Former two-time prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad called for Malay unity because parties like UMNO had strayed from their ideals and principles of bringing Malays together.
Despite the rift between the leadership and the grassroots, UMNO is now seen as making a remarkable comeback, unprecedented in the political history of the country.
PMX needs UMNO to retain Malay face
Its partners in the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition such as MCA and MIC are politically neither dead nor alive.
For all intents and purposes, BN as a coalition is effectively dead. In reality, BN exists largely because of UMNO’s continued presence.
However, amidst the chaos, UMNO has managed to re-emerge as a political force to be reckoned with.
Anwar is highly dependent on UMNO to ensure that the Madani government retains a Malay face. Take away UMNO, the PH-led coalition would be deprived of substantial Malay support.
The political resilience of UMNO seems reflected in recent statements by party leaders. Its president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has made it clear that UMNO could contest alone in the next general election.
It appears that UMNO has emerged as an emboldened political force. To wrest the party back from political decay, credit must be given to leaders such as Zahid.
However, detractors argue that UMNO may only appear resurgent because other political parties are performing poorly.
The recent and on-going political crisis in Negeri Sembilan is not an aberration but rather a logical outcome of UMNO flexing its muscles with its newfound power whether real or imagined.
Despite the political drama, UMNO wants the position of Menteri Besar in the state. Knowing UMNO’s political proclivities, more surprises may still be in the offing.
Anwar depends heavily on the goodwill of UMNO and his growing unpopularity means he has little choice but to ride the UMNO tiger. It needs no elaboration as to the likely outcome of riding a tiger.
It still appears surreal to imagine UMNO once again dominating the politics of the country. Ironically, many of the problems created during UMNO’s heyday remain
Yet despite its dark chapter, UMNO wants one more opportunity to steer the political direction of the country.
The majority of Malays have shifted towards PAS and Bersatu within the realm of Perikatan Nasional (PN). Will the Malays return to UMNO?
The Chinese and Indians have long deserted MCA and MIC. Whether it is appropriate to speak of UMNO as a candle that burns brightest before it finally fades out remains to be seen.
Whatever UMNO’s political future may be, let us watch the unfolding events that could either propel UMNO back to centre stage or lay the groundwork for its eventual demise. – May 4, 2026
Former DAP stalwart and Penang deputy chief minister II Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is chairman of the United Rights of Malaysian Party (Urimai) interim council.
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