Umno to set up a Home of Malay Politics Committee to reunite Malay political parties and bring back former members.
KUALA LUMPUR: Umno will establish a Home of Malay Politics Committee to facilitate the return of all parties which previously left Umno to rejoin, said party president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
He said the move is a crucial step towards reuniting Malay politics, which has long been fragmented.
He said the committee would open the door widely to individuals and groups seeking to return to Umno, whether individually or en bloc, positioning the party as the “original home of Malay politics” to strengthen national stability and secure the future of the nation.
“Umno is a home for all to reconnect. When some have lost their way, when others have fallen, return. The doors of this House of the Nation are always wide open to welcome the return of our brothers and sisters,” he said in his policy address at the Umno General Assembly at the World Trade Centre yesterday.
Ahmad Zahid said Umno members must be prepared to adapt to political dynamics and accept new approaches beyond long-standing norms.
He said merely defending principles is no longer sufficient as Umno bears a greater responsibility as a “House of the Nation” that must function as a unifying force for the Malay community.
“Unity cannot be driven by a rhetoric of anger or historical resentment. It must be guided by clear direction and a magnanimous spirit,” he said.
Speaking on the idea of Malay unity, he said past attempts to build a so-called Big Tent of the Malays without Umno failed to gain traction and ultimately collapsed because they lacked a strong foundation.
“Why seek a tent when the house already stands firmly? Umno is the shelter for the Malays. It is this house that safeguards balance and harmony among communities, and it is here that national prosperity is nurtured.”
He also reminded delegates of Umno’s history, noting that from this “house” emerged various Malay political parties and movements, including PAS, Semangat 46, Parti Keadilan Rakyat, Bersatu, Pejuang, Warisan and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah, all of which once shared a common national spirit.
“Some were born out of conflict and disappointment, others emerged due to differences in direction. This is not a history to be boasted about arrogantly, but one that must be reflected upon with humility.”
Ahmad Zahid said Malay-Islamic politics cannot continue to be divided and scattered, and must instead be reunited for the survival of the nation.
Quoting a Malay proverb, he added that division is a natural part of struggle, but unity ultimately provides strength.
“When a boat passes, branches may break and leaves may fall, but in the end, the water lilies will reconnect,” he noted.
He questioned how long internal disputes should continue while the nation faces mounting challenges.
“When wings are broken and one must lean on the beak to move forward, Umno must step up as the leader. If division is allowed to persist, the winner turns to ash and the loser to dust. Umno must be the bridge that repairs fractured bonds and unites scattered voices.”
He reiterated that Umno is not a party that exists only for election cycles, but one that has also endured nearly eight decades of civilisation, serving as a bulwark for continuity and national stability.
“Umno bears the great responsibility of leading the discourse on unity, solutions and the future of the country.”
He added that despite being pressured and squeezed from all sides, Umno has remained steadfast in upholding its principles and defending the interests of the ummah.
“As long as Umno remains faithful to these principles, it will continue to stand as the great house of the Malay nation, a place to rebuild strength, not to add new chapters of division.”
Ahmad Zahid also reminded all party members that the Umno house must be constantly maintained and repaired.
“Surely we cannot stand idly by when the roof begins to leak and the floor starts to rot. This house must be cleansed of the dust of arrogance so that it once again becomes a comfortable shelter for all the nation’s children. Umno is not an elite party. It was born from the sweat of the people.”
