Return to middle ground to survive, analysts tell Umno

[superadmin]

PETALING JAYA: A political analyst says Umno must return to its historically successful middle ground position to regain a firm foothold in Malaysian politics.

Stressing the importance of moderation, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak’s Jeniri Amir said the party should avoid becoming too focused on ethnic interests. It must also refrain from playing up elements that contradict the present-day aspirations of the government and the people.

He said Umno will not survive if it moves towards an overly Malay- or Islam-centric agenda, postulating that such a strategy would, at best, only work in the short term.

“A moderate, inclusive approach will take into account the interests of all sectors and the sentiments of all ethnic groups. To be respected and resonate with people on the ground, Umno must not become too extreme.

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