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KUALA LUMPUR – Umno must give its young “Patriot” activists the space and opportunity to prove themselves, said Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail.
Speaking during his winding-up speech at the 2026 Umno General Assembly, the Pahang Menteri Besar said Sekolah Patriotik Umno (SPU) had already produced a pool of young people who could contribute to the party’s future, not only as potential leaders but also as grassroots organisers.
He said the party would continue identifying those who were genuinely qualified and capable of contributing to Umno in the years ahead.
“Give them the opportunity and space. God willing, they will help us,” he said.
Wan Rosdy said the objective was not simply to prepare young people for leadership positions, but also to ensure they understood Umno, its history and its political struggle while gaining direct experience engaging with voters.
“We want them to know who Umno is and go down to the ground, so that they can believe in Umno’s struggle,” he said.
He said about 100 Patriots had already been deployed to assist Umno’s machinery across 50 state constituencies.
They were also tasked with reaching out to around 19,000 first-time voters through a call centre as part of the party’s efforts to engage younger voters.
Wan Rosdy said a similar approach had been carried out in Negeri Sembilan during the state election, where the Patriots had contacted about 50,000 people through online and face-to-face engagements.
The programme would also be extended to Melaka, he said.
Wan Rosdy stressed that young activists should not merely be treated as campaign workers, but should also have their ideas and perspectives heard by the party leadership.
“Make sure their ideas are heard. We know how young people think,” he said.
His remarks form part of a wider push by Umno to strengthen its grassroots presence and reconnect with younger voters, particularly those who may not have the same political loyalties or historical attachment to the party as previous generations.