UMNO could be revived by taking sacked members back into the fold, but the party would do better with a change of leadership, Merdeka Center co-founder Ibrahim Suffian said.
He said Umno would be able to attract new voters if the Malay party had new leaders.
"The potential (for revival) is there, but that will depend on who they are taking back into the fold. Those with credibility and followers will attract attention," Ibrahim said.
"But a leadership transition will have a bigger impact (on the party's fortunes)."
He said Umno could be taking back the members it has sacked to prevent them from making trouble for the party.
"Umno is trying to reduce the frictions in the party as it gears up for the next general election against PAS and Bersatu.
"It does not want these ex-members to join the opposition and help them in the polls," said Ibrahim.
Ibrahim was commenting on a statement by Umno Supreme Council member Jalaludin Alias, who said the party was considering taking back former leaders and members who were removed in a party-wide “cleansing” after the 2022 general election.
Jalaludin said former members who remained loyal to the Malay nationalist party and its aims would be given a second chance.
Over the last year, Umno has revoked the membership of several prominent party leaders, such as former Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar, former Tanjong Karang MP Tan Sri Noh Omar, and its information chief Isham Jalil.
Umno has also temporarily suspended the membership of several leaders, including Sembrong MP Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and former party information chief Shahril Sufian Hamdan.
Ilham Centre executive director Hisomuddin Bakar did not think the return of sacked members would make Umno any stronger.
"The political landscape has changed. The new voters are for Perikatan Nasional. Umno needs a new formula to attract these people," he said.
"There is no guarantee old faces will help the party win over new voters, especially the young ones.
"Things have changed. Umno will not get any better allowing sacked members back into the party."
Door is always open
Umno Supreme Council member Lokman Noor Adam said the party is ready to take back members who were sacked, but only if they show lyalty.
Lokman, who was booted out of Umno in the past but reinstated later, said the party was considering re-admitting several names.
"Our door is always open to new and old members. But those who have been sacked, they need to prove their worth to the party. They need to show loyalty and commitment and be ready to toe the party line.
"There is a process. When I was sacked, I wrote eight appeal letters. I waited more than a year to get back in.
In 2020, Umno sacked Lokman for defying the party president and Supreme Council.
Puad Zarkashi denied former Umno member Isham's claim that Umno was desperate.
Puad said Umno has a history of taking back sacked members, among whom were Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.
"Umno has always accepted sacked members but with conditions.
"We are not desperate; we review the applications of those who were sacked. It is not us who ask them to come back," said Puad.
Isham had accused Umno of being desperate to regain Malay support.
He said Pakatan Harapan had won in six of the eight Malay-majority polling districts in Kuala Kubu Baru because Malay voters, especially Umno supporters, had not voted in protest.
He said that as long as Umno continued to be led by Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and cooperated with DAP, many grassroots supporters and former leaders would not return to the party. – May 29, 2024.
