Kuala lumpur: UMNO will adopt 'out-of-the-box' approaches, including non-verbal communication methods, to win over young voters who now form the majority in the country's political landscape. Its president, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, emphasized the importance of acknowledging this reality, noting that voters below 40, including those under the Undi18 initiative, are more open-minded and no longer bound by party loyalty alone.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Ahmad Zahid stated that young voters are very open in their thinking and do not necessarily choose parties. Instead, they focus on candidates who can deliver agendas that matter to them and what they stand to gain from the candidates they support. He expressed these views during a special interview in conjunction with UMNO's 80th anniversary celebration.

Ahmad Zahid highlighted that the strategy is crucial as voting trends have shifted. Voters are increasingly assessing candidates based on service delivery and personal credibility rather than the political party they represent. On the 16th General Election (GE16), he did not rule out contesting solo but remained open to cooperation to avoid overlapping seats with parties in the Unity Government coalition.

The deputy prime minister acknowledged the current political reality, which makes it difficult for any single party or coalition to emerge dominant and form a government on its own without support from others. He mentioned the possibility of going solo but clarified that it does not mean rejecting cooperation. He emphasized the importance of avoiding seat overlaps, even if contesting independently, and maintained that UMNO is not rejecting any coalition partners.

Reflecting on the hung Parliament situation following GE15, Ahmad Zahid described the formation of the Unity Government as a necessary reality for national stability, despite initial perceptions surrounding the cooperation. He acknowledged the possibility of such a situation arising again and expressed doubt that any coalition in GE16 would become dominant enough to form a government on its own. He emphasized that this is a reality that must be acknowledged for future elections.