Abstract

Following its historic fall from power in the general election of 2018, the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) manoeuvred back to federal government in 2020, but essentially as a junior partner.  It performed worse in the 2022 general election.  Barisan Nasional, the coalition UMNO leads, came in a distant third with 30 parliamentary seats, behind Anwar Ibrahim’s Pakatan Harapan (82) and Muhyiddin Yassin’s Perikatan Nasional (74).  Does UMNO still have a future where it could regain political dominance and lead the federal government?  What would be the impact of UMNO’s decline, if not arrested, for Malaysia’s political system, governance and economic development?

Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed, Deputy President of the Senate, will offer his insights on these critical matters.  He is an UMNO supreme council member, UMNO division chief for Pulai, Johor, and the recent past deputy chairman of UMNO Johor.  He will address the following questions and more at the Roundtable:

1. Why has UMNO performed poorly in the recent elections?  What are its challenges e.g. leadership, lack of reform and renewal, more dynamic rival parties?
2. What must UMNO do to improve its performance and win the next general election?
3. What is its support base’s sentiment towards UMNO today?  What is the threat posed by Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), which form the Perikatan Nasional coalition?
4. What is UMNO’s relevance for today’s youth and its traditional support base, and what is its role in Malaysia’s evolving political system, governance, and political economy?

This webinar will be conducted under the Chatham House Rule.

About the Speaker

Nur Jazlan Mohamed was appointed Deputy President of the Dewan Negara in June 2023.  He has served as the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) Division Chief and Barisan Nasional (BN) Chairman for Pulai since 2003.  He was previously the Deputy Chairman of UMNO Johor.  He was Deputy Minister of Home Affairs (2015-2018), and Member of Parliament for Pulai (2004-2018). He was Chairman of the Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (2013-2015). A Qualified Professional Accountant, he was formerly Council member of ACCA Global of the UK (2014-2017) and Council member of the Malaysian Institute Accountants (2001-2011). He has served as an Independent Director of Bursa Malaysia companies like Telekom Malaysia Berhad and UMLand Berhad, and was Chairman of UDA Holdings Bhd.