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KUALA LUMPUR: Kuala Nerus Umno division chief Datuk Seri Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman has described Terengganu voters as unpredictable, capable of switching allegiance overnight.
"Voters in Terengganu are unique, one day they may support you, and the next day they can turn away," said the former Terengganu Menteri Besar at the Umno General Assembly (PAU) 2026 here today.
Addressing the press, he outlined the party's readiness to navigate an unpredictable political environment.
"Terengganu Umno is fully prepared. If we need to go solo, we will go solo, but if there is room to negotiate, we can negotiate," he said, emphasising that the party remains strategically agile.
He said national initiatives such as the Agenda Malaysia Biru, a vision championed by Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, must move past mere high-level rhetoric.
"This agenda should not just stop there," he said.
"It must instil confidence in voters and the general public that Umno remains fully relevant and capable of leading the nation once again. What happened in the past and what is occurring now must serve as a guide and directional indicator for the government to rule Malaysia."
Rejecting the idea that starting from scratch indicates vulnerability, Ahmad reaffirmed the party's durability on the East Coast.
"Do not assume that starting from zero means we are weak. Terengganu voters are unique, but Terengganu Umno is far from extinct," he said, pointing out that political fortunes can turn rapidly, much like the resurgence experienced during the 1999 general election in Terengganu and Kelantan.
He said such historical shifts offer a new vision built on mutual understanding.
He added that firm discipline and loyalty to the party hierarchy remain foundational principles for the state chapter.
"Terengganu Umno possesses high loyalty. We will accept whatever decision is made, we will not become traitors, and we are confident. Loyalty is our core principle," he said.
Addressing national negotiations, Ahmad appealed to the party leadership to consider regional dynamics carefully.
"When negotiating, take a close look at the conditions of individual states," he said, adding that any negotiation must grant Terengganu Umno the room and opportunity to jointly govern the nation.
He further stressed the need to modernise the party's approach to connect with younger demographics.
"We cannot continue using outdated methods. We must show this new generation our capability to deliver," he said.
Reiterating the chapter's tactical stance, he said Terengganu Umno was ready to go it alone or come to the table, depending on the circumstances.
"Terengganu Umno is ready. If we have to go solo, we go solo; if we negotiate, we negotiate. God willing, Terengganu Umno will continue to rise," he said.
He expressed confidence in the current state leadership of chairman Datuk Haji Rozi Mamat noting that the dignity of the party remains safe.
"Together with Datuk Rozi Mamat, Umno's dignity is protected. If we contest solo, we aim to lead. If not, we are willing to compromise," he said.
"Do not forget the people when entering negotiations. Let any agreement be grounded in the spirit of the Treaty of Hudaibiyah and the principles of the Ansar," he said.
