KUALA LUMPUR: Umno must demonstrate greater digital resolve to remain politically relevant, especially among younger voters, following its electoral setback in Sabah, said party deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
Speaking at the opening of the party’s Wanita, Youth, and Puteri general assemblies at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL) today, Mohamad stressed the need for introspection and renewal ahead of the 16th general election amid changing voter sentiment and the growing influence of local and digital narratives.
“The people of Sabah chose to reject us. They opted for local coalitions that are more in tune with local sentiment.
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“This shows there are still many issues we have yet to manage effectively,” he said.
Mohamad said the Sabah outcome also highlighted Umno‘s failure to keep pace with modern political communication, particularly among younger voters, acknowledging that the party had lost ground in digital spaces such as TikTok.
“Sabah taught us one thing; we lost on TikTok,” he said, stressing that political battles are no longer fought solely on the ground but increasingly on phone screens, especially among younger voters.
Mohamad urged the party to modernise, adapt, and rebuild credibility with both traditional supporters and younger voters, noting that about 50 per cent of the electorate is aged between 18 and 35, a demographic largely detached from Umno‘s historical achievements.
He said Umno must stop relying on legacy structures alone and instead embrace large-scale digitisation, calling for stronger online engagement, data-driven outreach, and more effective use of social media to reconnect with Generation Z and Alpha voters.
Mohamad also defended the critical role of Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh, urging him and the Youth wing to act as an “emergency bell” to safeguard Malay interests from within the government while reclaiming the narrative on behalf of the rakyat.
Umno’s role in the coalition, he added, is far from symbolic, with the party actively monitoring policies to protect constitutional rights and Malay-Bumiputera interests, while serving as a stabilising force within the government.
“Stop selling history. Start selling the future. We have fallen before, but we have never died. Return to your respective branches. Sharpen your swords, close ranks.
“We are preparing to become the political pillar again in this land,” he said.
He paid tribute to past Umno leaders, including the late Datuk Seri Panglima Bung Moktar Radin, and prayed for Allah’s blessing on the party’s struggle.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
