KUALA LUMPUR: Umno Youth will continue to act as an “emergency bell” to ensure that no party crosses the party’s three red lines: the special rights of Malays and Bumiputera, the sanctity of Islam, and the sovereignty of the Malay Rulers.
Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh said the wing will not be intimidated, even if allies in the unity government challenge these principles.
“Even if we are in the same team, I want to repeat this once again: we can be friends, but if you touch our religion, if you touch our race, if you touch our Rulers, then come and face Umno Youth Malaysia. It does not matter whether you are a minister, a chief minister or hold any position at all.
“For Umno Youth to surrender — that will never happen,” he said in his policy speech at the 2025 Umno Youth General Assembly here today.
Yesterday, Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan reminded all parties, including political allies, not to cross the three “red lines” simply because the party is part of the coalition forming the unity government.
The Rembau member of Parliament also gave the “green light” to Umno Youth and Dr Akmal to continue their bold approach in line with the mandate given to the wing as the party’s “pressure group, monitor, guardian of the Malay community and emergency bell.”
Dr Akmal acknowledged that he had received criticism from within the party when speaking out, especially when his remarks referred to leaders of allied parties in the unity government.
However, he expressed his appreciation to Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for consistently giving Umno Youth the space to act, even when they are often seen as not being on the same page.
“The Umno Youth formula is simple. As young people, we must speak on behalf of voices from the surau, from coffee shops, from padi fields and plantations, from cramped homes and rented houses.
“From low-cost flats, from the voices of parents worried about the rising cost of living, and from young people who are increasingly losing confidence in politics,” he said.
Dr Akmal also reiterated that voices from the grassroots are not a threat to the party, but rather an early warning to ensure the party does not become disconnected from the people it represents.
“Umno Youth realises that if we choose to remain silent, who else will speak for the grassroots? Silence is not a sign of loyalty; silence is the silent killer of a party,” he said.
He also reminded the leadership that the party must accept the current reality that Umno is still facing a crisis of public trust, even though it is now part of the government.
Umno cannot hide from that reality and must instead rise to rebuild confidence at the grassroots level.
“Umno is facing a crisis of public trust. Believe it or not, agree or not, this is a reality that can no longer be hidden. In the first year, the second year, the third year, perhaps we can still keep it to ourselves. We can tell ourselves, ‘It’s all right, we still have time to restore public confidence in us,'” he said.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
