Federal Territory Umno delegate says party argues with coalition partners, not through street protests.
KUALA LUMPUR: Umno has shown that it is prepared to argue courageously with its partners within the ruling coalition and not merely drag the people onto the streets, said Datuk Tengku Zuhri Tengku Abdul Aziz.
The Federal Territory Umno delegate, in his debate, stressed that mature public dissent is crucial to winning the confidence of urban voters.
The Lembah Pantai Umno division chief said urban voters are not swayed by handouts, personal favours or repeated appearances by politicians, but by parties that dare to consistently articulate and defend issues affecting their daily lives.
“Urban voters give their votes to parties that are brave enough to voice their problems, not because of favours, contributions or mere face time,” he said while debating the 2025 Umno President’s Address at the party’s Annual General Assembly today.
“You can meet them as many times as you want and give them whatever you like, but if your approach doesn’t resonate, they will not vote for you,” he added.
Tengku Zuhri said urban communities want to see political courage and consistency in the spaces where they live and engage every day, including social media and public discourse.
“If everything only happens behind closed doors, in meeting rooms or through carefully worded press statements just to save face, they will see it as elitist diplomacy. They will not view Umno as a party that truly stands up for the people.”
He argued that Umno must be willing to practise public dissent on issues that directly affect urban voters, adding that the party already has a strong example of how this can be done in a mature and responsible manner.
“Umno has shown how to disagree in a mature way. Not by dragging people onto the streets, but by debating issues openly and rationally in the public sphere.”
Tengku Zuhri cited the party’s handling of the controversy surrounding the proposed Urban Renewal Bill (URA) as a key example.
At the height of the debate, he said, various political actors adopted extreme postures, positioning themselves as instant “heroes” on the issue.
“Umno chose a different path. We organised a dedicated convention to debate the issue in an academic and constructive manner, demanding amendments, protection for residents and transparency for Malaysia’s multiracial society.”
The Urban Renewal Convention, held on Oct 3, 2025, was hosted by Umno Vice-President Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani and brought together experts and elected representatives to deliberate on the implications of urban redevelopment, particularly its impact on urban Malay communities.
Tengku Zuhri stressed that the convention was not organised merely for optics or symbolic gestures.
“It wasn’t just about taking pictures, sharing them on WhatsApp or showing that we submitted a resolution to our partners in government.”
Instead, he said the convention successfully elevated public concerns, asserting that the Urban Renewal Bill should not be tabled until fundamental issues were resolved.
“The message was clear, old buildings may need redevelopment, but residents’ rights must be fully protected
Past experience has shown that unclear laws only create confusion and pressure on the people.”
He added that the convention highlighted Umno’s position that development must be fair, transparent and accompanied by proper oversight mechanisms.
