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UMNO will remain part of Malaysia’s federal government in order to effectively champion the Malay and Bumiputera agenda, said the party’s deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, who emphasised the strategic importance of staying in power.
“If we leave, another party will fill the gap within two hours. We don’t want to be spectators on the sidelines. It is better to be in government, where we can drive new agendas suited to today’s realities,” he said at the UMNO Cheras division delegates meeting on Sunday.
Mohamad, who is also the Member of Parliament for Rembau, said the party’s continued presence in government enables it to shape national policies and address real socio-economic issues, including among Malay youths.
Citing education and skills development, he pointed to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as one of UMNO’s core focus areas. Although TVET typically falls under the Human Resources Ministry, he said UMNO president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has taken a leading role in bridging policy gaps.
“Many are not dropping out because they failed exams, but because they never sat for them. That’s why we introduced the National TVET Policy, the National Tahfiz Policy and several other initiatives,” he said.
Reflecting on the party’s challenges following its losses in the 2022 general election, Mohamad acknowledged that the political terrain had shifted and urged a more realistic approach to electoral strategy.
“The political reality now is that no party, anywhere in the world, can govern alone. That era has ended. We must be realistic. Although we have 192 divisions, our strategy should focus on constituencies we can win. Political idealism can be misleading and dangerous,” he said.
He also highlighted UMNO’s internal unity as a strength in a volatile political climate.
“No one will support a party that’s in disarray. We must maintain harmony and project ourselves as a moderate, peaceful force,” Mohamad said. - June 15, 2025