UMNO has yet to gain the confidence of Kelantan voters to take over the state administration, according to the party’s state leadership, which acknowledged that the long-ruling government still retains strong public backing.
UMNO Kelantan chairman Datuk SeriAhmad Jazlan Yaakub said the party continues to struggle to win the hearts of the electorate despite presenting policy offers and providing services to residents while in opposition.
“However, the people still appear not to reject the state government. What the state government does, even when it makes mistakes, is still accepted by the people of Kelantan.
“If we look at the economic situation in Kelantan itself, it is assisted by the Federal Government and the private sector.
“The economic growth generated by the state government, we know, is at a weak level, yet the people of Kelantan accept it.
“Frankly I say that until today UMNO has still not gained a place in the hearts of the people to take over the state of Kelantan. The situation I describe is for today; perhaps in a year the atmosphere will be different and during elections it may also be different,” he said.
He was speaking to reporters after attending a Ramadan moreh gathering with members of the Kelantan media in Kota Bharu on Sunday night.
Ahmad Jazlan said that although UMNO might not secure a large number of seats in the next state election, the party hopes voters will at least grant it several constituencies so it can play a stronger role in scrutinising the state administration.
“We have our focus areas but there is no need for me to mention them here. We know that even if we cannot obtain a large majority, we do not want to be left out.
“The people must also understand that in a state or country there cannot be absolute power leading. There must be checks and balances.
“Let us be the check and balance. Even if the people feel it is not yet time to give UMNO the mandate to lead, let them at least give enough seats for us to point out the weaknesses of the state government,” he said.
Separately, Ahmad Jazlan revealed that UMNO Kelantan has already drawn up an initial list of potential candidates for the next general election as part of preparations for any possibility, including a snap poll.
The preliminary list includes individuals from diverse backgrounds such as religious scholars, new and veteran faces, youth leaders and business figures.
He added that the performance of the party’s current elected representatives is also being monitored regularly, though he expressed satisfaction with the work of the two UMNO state assemblymen in Kelantan.
“Although we already have an initial list of candidates, the list is not permanent and candidates are constantly evaluated from time to time and may change.
“The position of candidates in a particular constituency can change depending on their level of commitment and how they engage with the people.
“We prepare a list of candidates as an early step in case a snap election occurs. In terms of candidates, our preparations have already been made,” he said.
The final decision on the list will be determined by the party president after the names are submitted for screening.
Ahmad Jazlan also said the performance of the party’s two assemblymen from Galas and Nenggiri is under continuous review.
“If they do not carry out their responsibilities properly, we may propose to the party president that their names should not be nominated later. However, for now we are satisfied and they are working diligently,” he said. - March 16, 2026
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