Umno’s Sabah election results show members don’t guarantee votes, says secretary-general, urging party to confront political migration and voter realignment.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Sabah state election results must serve as a critical wake-up call for Umno to confront political change and voter realignment.
Party secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said Umno secured only 144,584 votes despite having 622,637 registered members in the state.
He said this underscores that party members do not automatically translate into voters.
“Loyalty today can no longer be assumed,” he said when presenting the party’s report at the Umno General Assembly 2025.
Asyraf noted that Sabah Umno has experienced three major waves of defections since 2016.
These were to Parti Warisan in 2016, to Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia in 2018, and to Gabungan Rakyat Sabah in 2023.
“Each wave has eroded Umno’s strength, severing one by one the lifelines of Sabah Umno’s struggle,” he said.
He said this reality of political migration must be faced boldly, not only in Sabah but nationwide.
Asyraf said membership figures do not necessarily translate into electoral victory.
He pointed to a downward trend in the last three general elections.
“As we approach the Melaka and Johor state elections and eventually GE16, we must honestly ask: Is the addition of 46,655 members this year, bringing total membership to 3.525 million, sufficient to guarantee victory?” he said.
The ongoing Umno General Assembly 2025 is being attended by 6,412 delegates.
