Umno has more mature and cautious strategy now, say experts

Umno has more mature and cautious strategy now, say experts

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s remark that the party does not want to be “bitten by the same snake twice” reflects a more mature and cautious strategy.

Its past alliances had proven to be costly and destabilising, experts said.

Universiti Malaya sociopolitical analyst Datuk Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi said Zahid’s remarks, from a strategic perspective, should be interpreted as a sign of political maturity.

He said it reflected Umno’s determination not to repeat past cooperation that were politically costly and lacked clarity in direction, which undermined its organisational stability.

“Viewed optimistically, this stance indicates that Umno is now more cautious, grounded in realistic assessments and forward-looking in managing political cooperation.

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“It does not mean Umno is permanently closing the door, but rather stresses that any future cooperation must be founded on trust, consistency and clear power-sharing arrangements and not merely temporary alliances or those driven by political emotion,” he told the New Straits Times.

Earlier, when asked about the proposal for Umno to revive the alliance with Pas under Muafakat Nasional (MN), Zahid said Umno did not want to repeat past mistakes by forming alliances with opposition parties.

Without naming any party, he said Umno would not allow itself to be betrayed by the same party again.

In this context, Awang Azman said, the statement strengthened Umno’s bargaining position.

By drawing clear boundaries, he said, Umno projects confidence and stability while sending a reassuring signal to its grassroots and partners in the unity government that the party prioritises governance, reform and long-term recovery over political manoeuvring.

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He said Zahid’s remarks carried wider implications for efforts to realign the opposition bloc, as they implicitly exposed the structural weaknesses of MN as it previously existed.

“MN’s fragility did not stem solely from Umno’s withdrawal, but from an imbalance of trust, differing leadership expectations and contrasting political cultures between Umno and Pas.

“Although some Pas leaders have expressed openness to reviving MN and segments of Umno’s grassroots remain attached to nostalgia for the pact’s early successes, nostalgia should not override clear political lessons.

“In recent years, Pas has shown a tendency to prioritise strategic dominance over genuine power-sharing, frequently adjusting alliances based on short-term interests.

“This is the primary factor behind Umno’s concern about not being bitten by the same snake again.”

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Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research senior fellow Dr Azmi Hassan said Zahid’s stance showed that Umno learnt from its mistakes with MN, where Pas initially agreed to work together
but later decided to align with Perikatan Nasional.

He said at the time, Umno, which just lost the government, was more dependent on Pas.

“But right now it’s a totally different thing. Umno is quite confident that together with Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Pakatan Harapan, they can succeed in the 16th General Election.

“That’s what Zahid has said many times.” By Iylia Marsya Iskandar