KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki today delivered a wake-up call to Umno, cautioning that an increase in party membership does not necessarily translate into votes or electoral victories.
The Umno secretary-general said that while the party often celebrates growth in membership as a sign of strength, the reality is that numbers alone do not guarantee success at the polls.
In his speech at the opening of the Umno General Assembly today, Asyraf cited the 17th Sabah general election last year as the party’s “biggest” wake-up call.
“We entered the contest with confidence, believing we had more than 622,637 members.
“However, we only obtained 144,584 votes.
“The lesson is clear. Members are not necessarily voters, and voters do not necessarily remain with us,” he said.
During the Sabah polls, which concluded on Nov 29, Umno fielded candidates in 41 of the 73 constituencies contested.
However, the party won only six seats, including Lamag, which is now vacant following the death of Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin.
Asyraf also said Sabah’s political history recorded three major events affecting the party, which he described as “waves of political exodus.”
These included the formation of Parti Warisan in 2016, Umno leaders leaving the party to join Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia in 2018, and some Umno leaders joining Gabungan Rakyat Sabah in 2023.
“Each wave has eroded Umno’s strength, severing it one by one,” he said.
Asyraf also said the downward trend was not confined to Sabah alone. He added that in the past three general elections — GE13, GE14 and GE15 — the same pattern had been observed.
“As we approach the Melaka and Johor state elections and, subsequently, the 16th General Election, we must honestly ask ourselves…. Is the increase of 46,655 members this year, bringing the total to 3.525 million, enough to guarantee victory (for Umno in the polls)?
“Statistics in many states show a stark gap between the number of members and the votes received.
“This is the reality that we must confront with courage, not only in Sabah but nationwide. Loyalty can no longer be assumed as automatic,” he said.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
